Boston Retail Partners

Something as horrific as the Boston Marathon bombing doesn't just go away. If September 11, 2011 is any indication, the city will feel its repercussions for years to come. But there's one big difference between now and then. Today, we live in a world that is sadly more prepared for such tragedies. That's why experts predict that Boston's retailers will stay 'Boston strong' over the next year instead of losing sales. "I almost think it's going to have the opposite effect," says Ken Morris, a partner at consulting firm Boston Retail Partners. "People are pissed off. They'll go out of their way to support local businesses to prove 'we're tougher than this.'"