As businesses, large, such as Linens N Things, Filene’s Basement, and Circuit City, and smaller, such as Fabric Place, Green Tea II, other businesses are opening and changing.

Walgreen’s on School Street has expanded, and the entire shopping plaza is in the midst of the longest-taking facelift ever.  Some gas stations around town have changed their names and gas suppliers.  The Exxon on Edgell Road is now Gulf, and the former Mobil on Concord St. in Saxonville is now Riverside Gas.

Even as businesses close and people are laid off, there are these and other indicators that there is still hope and optimism.  While there are areas that are down, Framingham isn’t out,  as new sprouts of activity keep popping up.