December MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
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Welcome to the MARA December Newsletter. As we enter the holiday season, we extend our sincere thanks to all Asian restaurant professionals for continuing to bring great food, warmth, and cultural connection to our communities throughout the past year. We wish you a joyful and cozy Christmas, and a new year filled with opportunity and momentum.

MARA Spotlight
1) Boston’s Biggest New Year’s Eve Celebration | First Night Boston 2026
Location:
City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA
Date:
December 31, 2025 — Ringing in 2026
Event Overview:
Since 1976, First Night Boston® has been a signature New Year’s Eve tradition, celebrating the arts and the excitement of welcoming a new year. The event brings together live music, performances, light shows, and artistic experiences for audiences of all ages.
Continuing this beloved Boston tradition, First Night Boston 2026 will feature an exciting lineup of performances and festivities throughout City Hall Plaza and surrounding areas.
Made possible by generous donations from local companies and individuals, First Night Boston is free and open to the public, with no purchase required. It’s the largest New Year’s Eve celebration in New England—and we’re excited to welcome you.
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2)  2025 Massachusetts Asian Restaurants Open on Christmas and New Year holidays
In support of both the community and Asian restaurant owners, MARA has prepared a list of Asian restaurants that will be open during the 2025 Christmas and New Year holiday season, helping customers enjoy convenient dining and quality time with family. (During the holiday, some restaurants’ menus may be different. Recommend contacting the restaurant in advance to avoid any inconvenience.)
  1. Dumpling Cafe
    695 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111
    (617) 338-8859
    https://dumplingcafe.com/
  2. Gourmet House Asian
    115 S Main Street, Haverhill, MA 01835
    (978) 374-1870
    https://gourmethouseasiancuisine.com/
  3. Kosher Wok
    423 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446
    +1-617-264-7274
    https://www.thekosherwok.com/
  4. Lucky Dragon
    339 S Broadway, Rt 28, Salem, NH 0307
    603-898-8888
    https://luckydragonsalemnh.com/
  5. Royal Garden
    3 Tremont St, Kingston, MA 02364
    781-585-5506
    http://www.royalgardenmenu.com
  6. Sichuan Gourmet Burlington
    91 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, MA 01803
    781-221-6299
    https://sichuangourmetburlington.com
  7. Sichuan Palace
    7 Summer Street #17, Chelmsford, MA 01824
    978-256-8545
    https://www.Sichuan-Palace.com
 
Click below to see the complete list:

NEWS YOU DON"T WANT TO MISS
1) Boston Tourism and Hospitality Leaders Convene to Discuss 2026 Recovery and Growth
In early December, Meet Boston, the city’s official tourism organization, held its annual industry meeting, focusing on recovery strategies for the restaurant, hotel, and tourism sectors following fluctuating visitor levels in 2025. Key discussion topics included:
  • The relationship between restaurants and city tourism and convention activity
  • The revenue impact of large-scale events and seasonal festivals 
  • Expectations for international visitor return and dining demand in 2026
This meeting is widely viewed as an important indicator of Greater Boston’s restaurant market outlook for the coming year.
 
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Mayor Michelle Wu delivers remarks at the Meet Boston annual meeting held at the InterContinental Boston. Photo: Mike Mejia / Mayor’s Office
2) Snowport Holiday Market Emerges as a Key Seasonal Dining and Consumption Hub
In December 2025, the Snowport Holiday Market in Boston’s Seaport once again became a focal point for holiday foot traffic and seasonal spending. This year’s market further emphasized a “local food + dining experience” model, bringing together restaurant pop-ups, festive food offerings, and seasonal menus.
For the restaurant industry, Snowport highlights several broader trends:
  • Highly concentrated holiday-season dining and retail demand
  • Growing importance of pop-up food concepts and seasonal menus
  • Increased visibility opportunities for small and independent restaurants, including Asian-owned businesses
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3) Massachusetts Lawmakers Propose Legislation to Raise Tip Wage and Introduce Minimum Gratuity
Massachusetts legislators have introduced a draft bill proposing to raise the statewide minimum wage to $20, while increasing the tipped minimum wage from the current $6.25 to $12. The proposal also includes a provision allowing restaurants to impose a mandatory 19% minimum gratuity on parties of four or more during peak dining seasons.
Supporters argue the bill would improve income stability for service workers, while opponents raise concerns about customer behavior, pricing transparency, and the operational impact on small, independent restaurants.
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Events for Restaurant Pros
1)Dine Out Boston / Winter Restaurant Week
Time: January 2026 (typically mid-to-late January; official dates to be announced)
Location: Greater Boston
Boston’s annual Winter Restaurant Week draws significant local and visitor traffic. Participating restaurants offer fixed-price menus, making it a key opportunity to boost early-year foot traffic, test new menu concepts, and attract new customers.
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2）ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Certification
Date: December 1, 2025
Location: Boston, MA
Hosted by MRA, this course includes same-day food safety training and certification required for restaurant operations across Massachusetts.

JOIN mara
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Dear restaurant owners and business providers,
MARA is devoted to be the backbone of the Asian restaurant community and maintain a vibrant platform for Asian restaurants and business/service providers alike. We support our members with information on fund-sourcing, policy interpretation, networking opportunities and public advocacy, to name a few. In today's fast changing environment, MARA will be your ally, and you will never have to face challenges alone.

About mara
Founded in 2018, Massachusetts Asian Restaurant Association (MARA) is a non-profit corpo­ration registered at Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It formed a partnership with Massachu­setts Restaurant Association (MRA) in 2020. MARA provides Asian restaurant businesses the resources and guidance needed to advance in the industry. MARA is a platform connecting Asian restaurant members with professional service providers as well as relevant governmental entities to enhance the communication collaboration and mutual benefits. Visit ma-ara.org to join or learn more.
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948 Broadway
Saugus, MA 01906, United States