Shopping fans, get excited. Wrentham Village Premium Outlets is adding four new stores this year Owned by Simon Property Group, Wrentham Village Premium Outlets is the biggest outlet mall in New England, complete with over 170 retailers ranging from Old Navy to Versace 2025's new additions consist of three clothing stores and one dining option owned by a New England legend "With the addition of these exciting new retailers and restaurants we’re proud to further elevate the experience for our visitors," said Ashley Feldhouse Area Director of Marketing and Business Development for Wrentham Outlets "Wrentham is truly the ultimate location for those seeking both style and flavor all in one place." Founded and owned by former Boston Celtics player Shaquille O’Neal himself, Big Chicken is the most highly anticipated opening of the year at Wrentham Outlets The popular fast casual chain is known for its tenders chicken sandwiches and hand-crafted ice cream shakes with a menu that combines bold flavors with Shaq's childhood favorites Popular items include Uncle Jerome’s Nashville Hot a sandwich with spicy Nashville hot chicken topped with crispy fried onions and mac and cheese Big Chicken will be open for hungry shoppers next to Tavern in the Square by mid-2025 Inspired by the active lifestyle of coastal Californians, Vuori is a performance apparel brand that sells high-quality clothing focused on fitness Canadian brand La Vie en Rose will bring its women's underwear loungewear and swimwear to Wrentham Outlets with a mission to make every woman feel beautiful and comfortable in their lingerie and swimwear the store will be between Aerie and New Balance's newly renovated space Rag & Bone a clothing brand that combines British heritage with a modern New York aesthetic into quality staple pieces with a chic will open their doors at Wrentham Outlets in summer 2025 The outlets are located at 1 Premium Outlet Blvd (WJAR) — Wrentham Village Premium Outlets said it is welcoming multiple new restaurants and retailers in 2025 including Shaquille O'Neal’s Big Chicken The Shaq’s Big Chicken is set to open in mid-2025 The anticipated new restaurant will offer menus including The Original Big Chicken sandwich and Uncle Jerome’s Nashville Hot “Wrentham Village Premium Outlets has long been recognized as New England’s largest outdoor outlet shopping destination and with the addition of these exciting new retailers and restaurants we’re proud to further elevate the experience for our visitors,” Area Director of Marketing and Business Development Ashley Feldhouse said “With a diverse mix of world-class shopping and new culinary experiences like Big Chicken Wrentham is truly the ultimate location for those seeking both style and flavor all in one place.” New retailers that will be coming to the outlet this spring include performance apparel brand Vuori Wrentham Village Premium Outlets said it then will open La Vie en Rose late spring and Rag & Bone in the summer New England’s largest outdoor outlet shopping destination is welcoming several new retailers and restaurants ahead of the busy holiday shopping season joining an impressive lineup of more than 170 brands and dining options featuring Gilly Hicks are set to arrive in October 2024 Hollister features the highest quality of clothing and accessories at prices teens can afford Gilly Hicks offers activewear and loungewear for men and women Italian luxury fashion brand Moncler will open in time for the holidays at Wrentham the brand is known for expertly combining the extreme demands of nature with those of city life Shake Shack is known as an instant neighborhood fixture serving elevated versions of American classics using only the best ingredients It’s known for its delicious made-to-order Angus beef burgers Shake Shack is expected to open in late winter “We are proud to welcome these celebrated brands to Wrentham Village Premium Outlets,” said Ashley Feldhouse Area Director of Marketing and Business Development “Restaurants and retailers like these continue to elevate Wrentham as a must-visit shopping and dining destination We are looking forward to offering our customers the very best brands and deals during the holiday shopping season and beyond.” and Pepper Palace have also all recently opened offering shoppers the chance for even more exclusive deals and choices two beloved brands have announced relocations in new spaces with Vineyard Vines relocating in October and Crocs set to expand in early 2025 The holiday shopping season is fast approaching, and Wrentham Village Premium Outlets is preparing with the introduction of four new retailers Wrentham Village Premium Outlets is the biggest outlet mall in New England complete with over 170 retailers ranging from Old Navy to Versace The newest additions consist of three clothing stores and one dining option “Restaurants and retailers like these continue to elevate Wrentham as a must-visit shopping and dining destination Hollister Co., a clothing store focused on teenage trends, will open in Wrentham Outlets with its sister store Gilly Hicks and Gilly Hicks are set to open in time for the holidays will be located between Carter's and Skechers Italian fashion brand Moncler is bringing their luxury outerwear to Wrentham Outlets The line is well-known for combining nature and city life into fashionable pieces like puffer jackets The store will be located between Versace and Tumi and will open before the holidays If you get hungry from all the holiday shopping, the new Shake Shack might hit the spot Options at this popular fast-food chain include Angus beef burgers Shake Shack will be located next to the GAP outlet The restaurant is set to open in late winter How to shop at Wrentham OutletsHours at Wrentham Outlets are 10 a.m (This story has been updated with a new photo.) Nothing says Black Friday like an early morning spending spree at a local shopping mall While many shoppers take to online retailers for holiday deals the more adventurous set out for an in-person deal hunt Many brick-and-mortar retailers still have discounts on in-store items, so shoppers looking to get ahead of Cyber Monday sellouts can make their purchases in person ahead of time most malls around the state have special holiday hours for the day If you're planning a trip to the Dartmouth Mall or any other mall around Massachusetts or Rhode Island Dartmouth Mall Black Friday hours 2024Dartmouth Mall will be open from 7am-9pm on Black Friday The Wrentham Village Premium Outlets, which is home to more than 100 stores, will open at 6 a.m Natick Mall Black Friday hours 2024The Natick Mall is opening two hours earlier than normal on Black Friday Like the shops in Wrentham, South Shore Plaza, the shopping mall in Braintree, will open at 6 a.m The plaza will be open from 9 a.m The NorthShore Mall in Peabody is set to open at 6 a.m Burlington Mall will unlock its doors early on Black Friday. It will be open from 6 a.m CambridgeSide Black Friday hours 2024The CambridgeSide, which is in Cambridge, will be open for normal hours on Black Friday The Solomon Pond Mall, which is in Marlborough, will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Black Friday Cape Cod Mall Black Friday hours 2024The Cape Cod Mall will open early for Black Friday at 6 a.m. The Westgate Mall, in Brockton, will have normal hours on Black Friday, opening at 10 a.m. and closing at 9 p.m. The Auburn Mall will unlock its doors early on Black Friday, opening from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Providence Place will be open from 9 a.m On Black Friday, Warwick Mall's stores will open at 7 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. Garden City Center in Cranston will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Black Friday. Above  Franklin militia reenactor, Gene Grella right, and Joseph Paluzzi from Braintree, firing a ceremonial salute to the men of Wrentham who mustered and marched on April 19, 1775. (photos by Paul Pisani) Saturday morning there was a bit of a stir in Wrentham center as the historical commissions of that town and its three "daughter" towns, Franklin, Norfolk, and Plainville, convened to recognize the scores of local men who marched for Lexington and Concord when the news of fighting reached them 250 years ago. The event began in the "Man Tavern of 1775" -- in reality the modern-day Gavel Restaurant, where proprietor John Cox made participants welcome. The event the proceeded with a brief recap of the history and a note that the "first blood" of the conflict with the mother country could just as easily have been spilled on Wrentham Common, where her citizens were as motivated, trained and prepared as those of Lexington and Concord. Kristine Moore and Alicia Sheridan (above) from the Plainville Historical  Commission took turns reading the long list of April 19 soldiers of old Wrentham as well as those who later participated in the Siege of Boston, the Battle of Bunker Hill and many later engagements. Another presentation highlighted new research that has uncovered previously uncredited black soldiers from the town that fought for freedom in the Revolution. The event then continued on the Common with reenactors Grella and Paluzzi firing a salute to the local Patriots of 1775 and sharing details about soldiering in the 18th century. Franklin's Rachel Plukas joined the crowd of mostly younger folks on the Common to showcase her nearly 250-year-old spinning wheel and "weasel" and to demonstrate and explain the vital role of women  in sustaining the Patriot cause. She also noted that this "women's work" in the Revolutionary period was often performed in groups to enhance production of yarn; an environment that opened social and intellectual horizons for American women of the time, she said. Above, right, Rachel Plukas demonstrates a "weasel" -- a device helpful to measuring skeins of yarn and, yes, the  inspiration for the children's rhyme, Pop Goes the Weasel. Moderate rain, with a high of 57 and low of 51 degrees. Overcast in the morning, mist overnight. Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall. Parking nightmare in Wrentham outlets for Black Fridayby NBC 10 NEWS and shoppers at Wrentham Village Premium Outlets said a big concern so far has been parking (WJAR) — Thousands of shoppers are expected at the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets on Friday Many shoppers were lined up outside before the shops opened at 6 a.m It's brought out the competitive side for some "I've been looking for a long time I'm about to follow people which I normally don't do," said a woman who drove off to catch a parking spot in front of the Outlets Friday morning "It was a bit of an argument that way some lady was standing in a spot and this other guy was insistent on parking in that spot so they were yelling at each other for five minutes," said Alex who was stuck in traffic for at least 30 minutes Some said arriving early in the morning was still the best option "Coming early definitely helps beat the traffic I know one time we came at like 5:30 to 6 and the other time I came at 2 in the afternoon and it took like an hour to get out the exit," say Jordan Gordon a shopper who was heading out for the day where there was a major traffic backup on I-495 and surrounding roads as residents hit the road for Black Friday shopping Cars on the roads leading into the outlets were moving slowly or at a dead stop on and off for hours we loved it we could get here before the crowd and be out of here at 4AM now it's a little disappointing because everyone gets here at the same time and the lines move fast but it's not like it used to be," said Judy Johnson Shopper still said they would do it all again in a heartbeat because the deals were well worth the wait "We'll come back again even if it was crazy getting here it was apart of the experience that's what matters," continued Alex The Wrentham Village Premium Outlets will be open until 9 p.m NBC 10's Kennedy Buck and Katie Benoit contributed to this report Wrentham police said they are seeking help after finding an abandoned dog on Thursday Police said the dog was left at Joe's Rock Conservation on Route 121 late overnight Anyone with information is asked to contact police A rockslide in Wrentham caused parts of I-495 south to close Tuesday afternoon An excavator was seen clearing the rocks from the highway (WLNE) — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation said it will be performing construction work alongside Interstate 495 in Wrentham starting Feb The work is scheduled to take place Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m All lanes will be closed on I-495 northbound and southbound for approximately 10 minutes twice daily between 11:30 a.m Drivers traveling through the affected area should expect delays More information on road work and traffic conditions can be found at Mass511. “In the end you’re going to try to fit way more people in a spot then it was designed for lots of patience and the expectation that you could be backed up for a very long time,” says Wrentham Police Chief Bill McGrath And the chief of police knows from experience Staff with the outlets have taken steps to hopefully avoid a repeat “We always enhance security and safety plans with the local PD and the town and work with our retailers but we pretty much have it down to a science,” says Ashley Fieldhouse the Director of Marketing for Wrentham Village Premium Outlets “Driving in we set up roadblocks and cones to protect people driving out of the lanes that they’re in and PD is also very active here and monitoring road patrol and road safe." the outlets were packed with people wanting to get a head start “Black Friday does seem to be a pretty hectic day and it seems like lately Black Friday deals are a full week now so enjoy the family on Friday and get out of the house before Thanksgiving hits,” said Nick Burdo But in case some want to wait for the rush of Black Friday shopping there will be extra parking attendants to guide traffic and a new employee lot to leave room for more shopper But one major piece of advice still stands “Don’t’ come anywhere near this place if you’re not going shopping,” said McGrath Wrentham Village Premium Outlets will be open 6 a.m The Big Apple in Wrentham announced they are closing after 28 years in business The owners made the announcement on their Facebook page The business will officially close on Wednesday Wrentham police have had more questions than answers after two teenagers were on a hike and found skeletal remains in the area of Eagle Brook back in 1974 “We went to the scene and the skeleton remains had been there for a while and nothing left other than bone and there was noose hanging from a tree and the skull had separated from the torso,” said retired Wrentham Police Officer Fred True True was one of the responding officers to the scene and he said during that time sources were limited but they were able to determine that the remains belonged to a man but everything else remained a mystery and American and Canadian coins and in my recollection there was an empty wallet with no id and no bills,” continued True the remains were then buried at Center Cemetery in Wrentham Center Management reached out to state and town officials to uncover the decades long mystery “We were looking for somebody and it happened to take us into the unidentified skeleton and as soon as I saw that I thought what’s his story because all that was here was just a number on the ground and there was no marker there was nothing to indicate an unidentified skeleton to begin with,” said Raymond Rose Rose then partnered with state and Wrentham police Marcus Vaughn and the court authorized for the remains to be exhumed “Someone’s loved one is buried here in Wrentham and they don’t know who the person is and they don’t know who that loved one is and we want to bring in closure,” the Chair of the Wrentham Historical Commission Justin Schlesinger said the remains were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner where DNA samples will be taken and hopefully someone’s story will finally have a proper ending Officials predict the process will take up to a few months Drawing from Massachusetts history while also peeking into the future Maura Healey on Thursday night took stock of the state's strengths and challenges in a speech that focused more on following through on past work than on announcing new initiatives delivered a rebuttal to many of the claims made by the governor [see end of story] The governor began her second State of the Commonwealth address with a reference to the events at Lexington and Concord 250 years ago this April that led to the American Revolution and declared that "it's Massachusetts' moment again" to lead the country and the world as well as an opportunity to "know our past understand our present and build our future." Healey's 57-minute speech in the House Chamber touched on past Healey spent much of her speech reflecting on the work of her first two years in office eliminating slow zones on the MBTA's subway system and hauling in more than $9 billion in federal funding In addition to a focus on affordability and addressing cost burdens on residents and businesses Healey also pitched her administration's plans to implement last session's headlining laws we're gonna work to implement all that historic legislation that I was talking about We're going to stay focused on the things that matter to you We'll take new steps forward to fix transportation we're going to continue to control spending and live within our means just as every family and business in Massachusetts must do The budget I submit next week will prioritize efficiency We need every dollar -- you need every dollar -- to make a difference We're going to do that because I want to make sure that things move and really go in our state." The governor also announced Thursday night that she is ordering greater health care resources be directed to the front lines of primary care plans to complete a review of all business and licensing regulations by April and will establish a new council to recommend a new statewide high school graduation standard One of the loudest rounds of applause Thursday night was for MBTA General Manager Phil Eng whom Healey praised for making good on his pledge to wipe away slow zones on the T's subway system by the end of 2024 The transportation financing plan that Healey rolled out in Worcester on Tuesday one that calls for $8 billion in state investments over a decade with a heavy reliance on wealth surtax revenues to resolve the T's looming fiscal cliff was a major component of her speech and is likely to be a major focus of the Legislature as the new 2025-26 lawmaking term gets going "We'll put the entire system on stable financial footing You'll see more funding in your town's budget to fix roads and sidewalks," Healey said to applause from a group of mayors we're going to close the T's budget gap so Phil and his team can keep cookin'." The emergency shelter system that has been maxed out by a surge of migrants in recent years -- and which led Healey to declare a state of emergency in August 2023 -- got only a brief mention during Thursday's speech Healey fully backed more restrictive residency requirements for the system "I want to be absolutely clear: We are dramatically reducing costs In 2025 we'll get families out of hotels for good We're going to keep working with the Legislature to reform this system," she said The federal government needs to fix this at the source the Wrentham Republican chosen to give the GOP's response referred to the avalanche of coverage about a lack of transparency on Beacon Hill and problems with the emergency shelter system and said Healey's speech "ignored the headlines of our leading papers and the top concerns of our residents." "The governor presented a rosy picture of our commonwealth declaring unequivocally that the state of the commonwealth is strong obscuring critical challenges and ignoring pressing issues," Vaughn said "Massachusetts faces a crisis of affordability with an unsustainable cost of living driving a mass exodus of residents Folks are not buying what Governor Healey is selling and the proof is in the lived experiences of the residents of Massachusetts It is a direct result of one party led by entrenched Beacon Hill party bosses and their partners in the Healey-Driscoll administration." The governor also touched upon her interest in a renewed focus on primary care investments She announced that she is directing her administration "to shift health care resources to the front lines." "I'd love to build a whole army of primary care providers to be out there across our state Hours before her speech, the Health Policy Commission released a report outlining the shortage of providers entering the primary care field low reimbursement rates compared to specialty care and patients turning to emergency rooms because they couldn't access a primary care clinician Healey also put more detail around her plan for a successor to the MCAS standardized tests as a high school graduation requirement Voters in November eliminated the MCAS as a graduation requirement But it creates for all of us a responsibility to make sure every student graduates ready to succeed and employers need to know what a diploma represents it’s always the most vulnerable students who don’t get what they need," the governor said Healey used her State of the Commonwealth speech to announce that she is directing a "Statewide Graduation Requirement Council" including teachers employers and students to develop recommendations for a permanent and high standard "We'll evolve to a new Massachusetts model for high school excellence that best serves our children And we'll match high standards with great opportunities – like the Early College and job training programs that give students a leg up on their next step," the governor said And with the high cost of doing business in Massachusetts in mind Healey said she is instructing her economic teams to "review all business and licensing regulations in these first three months" of this year "I want it cheaper and faster for you to do business in Massachusetts," she declared The governor spent very little time Thursday night talking about the second administration of Republican President-elect Donald Trump a foil to Healey during her time as attorney general Healey has generally softened her rhetoric towards him The state's relationship with the White House will be key to a number of Healey's priorities from offshore wind development to rebuilding the Cape Cod bridges there will be a transition of power in Washington I assure you we will take every opportunity to work with the federal government in any way that benefits Massachusetts and I also promise you we will not change who we are," she said in the only direct reference to the incoming Trump administration though the governor did not use the president-elect's name Healey's annual address to a joint session of the state Legislature always brings out a who's-who of Bay State government and politics Among those in attendance for Healey's remarks Thursday night included U.S Richard Neal and Stephen Lynch; former Gov former Senate presidents Robert Travaglini Therese Murray and Stanley Rosenberg; a bevy of district attorneys from around Massachusetts; representatives from the Supreme Judicial Court and Appeals Court; General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Sean O'Brien and International Association of Fire Fighters President Ed Kelly; and former Boston Celtics player and 1981 NBA Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell (WJAR) — Wrentham Police are asking anyone who might recognize this little pup or know the owner to call them The dog’s name and exact breed are unknown but animal control said he was by a good Samaritan around 8:00 Thursday morning Animal Control said he’s likely been neglected for a while If you're planning a trip to the Wrentham Outlets South Shore Plaza or any other mall around Massachusetts Wrentham Outlets Black Friday hours 2024The Wrentham Village Premium Outlets, which is home to more than 100 stores, will open at 6 a.m Copley Place Black Friday hours 2024Boston's popular shopping mall CambridgeSide, which is in Cambridge, will be open from 9 a.m Dartmouth Mall will be open from 7am-9pm on Black Friday (Photo Illustration by Scott Olson/Getty Images) The Shake Shack opened its first outlet establishment in New England at Wrentham Village Premium Outlets in late November near the Tavern in the Square at the front of the Outlets property “We are proud to welcome elite brands in the shopping and dining world to Wrentham Village Premium Outlets,” said Ashley Feldhouse, area director of marketing and business development for the Outlets, in a media release shared with Boston 25 News “The opening of Shake Shack continues to make Wrentham a must-visit shopping and dining destination." Shake Shack debuted as a small hot dog stand in New York City in 2001 and has since expanded to close to 400 locations in the United States and worldwide It operates more than half a dozen locations throughout the Boston area The fast-food restaurant serves an array of elevated American comfort food including made-to-order Angus beef burgers the food establishment entered a partnership with Delta Air Lines first-class passengers on flights greater than 900 miles can order a burger from the Shake Shack as an in-flight meal option Download the app to LISTEN LIVE wherever you are and connect with us like never before Need a last minute gift or extra stocking stuffer? With Christmas coming up fast it's probably too late to order any last-minute online items that would arrive in time for the holiday But don't worry — good old fashioned in-person shopping is still an option. And many malls around the state offer special hours on Christmas Eve in anticipation of an influx of last-minute shoppers The Wrentham Village Premium Outlets Natick Mall Christmas Eve hours 2024The Natick Mall will open an hour earlier The South Shore Plaza in Braintree has special holiday hours this week It will be open 9 a.m Copley Place Christmas Eve hours 2024Boston's popular shopping mall The plaza will be open from 10 a.m The NorthShore Mall in Peabody will be open from 9 a.m Burlington Mall will unlock its doors early on Christmas Eve CambridgeSide Christmas Eve hours 2024CambridgeSide, which is in Cambridge, will be open from 9 a.m The Auburn Mall has special holiday hours this week: it will be open from 9 a.m Dartmouth Mall will be open from 9 a.m The Lee Outlets