Holy Cross and and Madison Properties are excited to announce that they have entered into a collaboration to purchase 725 Southbridge Street, the former Rotmans Furniture property. The property includes approximately 300,000 sq ft of building area on more than 14 acres of land.
Holy Cross and Madison will collaborate on a master plan for the long-term redevelopment of the property, an anchor parcel in the South Worcester neighborhood and a landmark near the front door of the Holy Cross campus.
“We are excited about the possibilities for this project to contribute to the vibrancy and character of our neighborhood and to provide new opportunities to serve our campus community,” said Holy Cross President Vincent D. Rougeau.
The specific use of the property has yet to be determined, though its primary purpose ultimately will serve Holy Cross’ core mission as a Jesuit, Catholic liberal arts college. The collection of buildings offers a number of possibilities, none of which has been ruled out. Given the property’s size, historic character, and complex layout, it will take a significant planning period to determine which possibilities provide the greatest potential for the decades to come.
Holy Cross and Madison will soon begin working to identify an architect to lead the development of a master plan for the property, including the possibility of adaptive reuse for some of the existing structures. They have already been in contact with City of Worcester officials and plan to work with the city throughout the planning and development process.
The complex at 725 Southbridge Street has long held a central role in Worcester's industrial and commercial identity. The Whittall Mills complex, built between 1870 and 1910, was a powerhouse in the carpet manufacturing industry under the ownership of Matthew J. Whittall. By World War I, the mill spanned 500,000 square feet, operated 350 looms, and employed 1,500 skilled laborers.
Following the sale of Whittall’s company in the 1950s, the site transitioned into modern use and in 1964 became home to Rotmans Furniture. The Rotman family transformed the historic site into one of Central Massachusetts’ premier furniture retailers. With its slogan, “seven stores on five floors under one roof,” Rotmans became a local landmark, visible from Interstate 290, and grew to achieve national prominence, ranked among the top furniture retailers in the United States. In 2023, after nearly 60 years in operation, the store’s closure marked the end of an era for the iconic Worcester company. The property has been largely vacant for the past two years.
“The parcel at 725 Southbridge Street is a unique property with a rich history and tremendous potential,” said Denis Dowdle, president of Madison Properties. “This acquisition is consistent with Madison’s history of acquiring and re-imagining under-utilized industrial property in Worcester.
“Holy Cross’ commitment to ensuring the long-term viability of this property has made this transaction possible, and our collaboration is centered on identifying the highest and best long-term use for the property. We look forward to engaging with the city and other stakeholders as the planning process gets underway.”
