Keep Hubba Hubba Open & Safe; A Boston Tradition Since 1978

Hubba Hubba needs your help. We, like most other small businesses, have been hit hard by recent market conditions (city structure changes, tariffs, rising costs, and surprisingly, climate change). We are in arrears for August and September rent, owe a “surprise” tax bill from 2023 due at the end of September, and need to make emergency repairs due to ongoing water damage from a changing water table to make our space safe for the remainder of our lease.

When I walked out of my marriage from a world-class cancer researcher around this time 10 years ago, I couldn’t have imagined that I would have the opportunity to give back not only the immense scientific knowledge I had picked up from 20+ years of hanging out in research labs but from living with a narcissistic, emotional (and physical) abuser. I took my half of the proceeds from our co-owned house and bought Hubba after the previous owner passed so that this iconic store could live on.

Since then, I have sunk all my savings, my retirement, and often go without paychecks to keep the business running. My family has contributed all they can. I have maxed out my credit cards and taken high-interest loans to keep the business afloat through Covid and beyond. I have made many mistakes along the way, but I have tried to learn and grow as a person. I truly believe that we are finally finding our groove.

For the past couple of years, we have operated at a loss, and I have filled in those gaps but we are on the precipice of real prospects for growth and success despite the current state of the world.

We have the greatest staff. We have weekly trainings, meetings, and brainstorming sessions. We try to listen to our customers and be nimble in our product selection to meet the needs of our community. We really want to expand. There are real opportunities and importance for a store like ours in today’s climate. Massachusetts is poised to become a haven for the LGBTQ+ community (especially for trans individuals) and as laws change across the country, access to sexual health products and information is becoming very limited. Access to fashion and accessories from other countries is also becoming prohibitively expensive to obtain on an individual level. We have always tried to bring in the best products at value-driven prices.

Our ask: we want to make our existing space safe for the remaining length of our lease (4 years).

The construction in our area in the fall of 2023 (city replacement of pipes, resealing of the driveway behind the building, and other local construction projects), changed the water table in our area so that water began seeping through the walls into our below grade space. We have fought the good fight in keeping the space “safe,” running three HEPA filters constantly, constantly cleaning, bringing in the Health Department, running mold tests, etc. but it has taken a toll on the health and welfare of me and my employees. The landlord is finally “fixing” the leaking walls. (Please note: The store may be under construction in late September for a week.) However, we also need to repair the floor that was improperly installed and has been subjected to 10 years of water damage from various floods, as well as repair damaged walls, fixtures, and other major/minor repairs. Ideally, this will happen at the same time as the water mitigation repair to minimize any interruption to store operations.

Our big ask: we also have the opportunity to take on additional space to expand the store but that takes real money… We have been storing our back stock in a off-site storage space in Everett (lowest cost), but if we would expand into the empty storage space available to us, we could expand our social media presence (including more online classes, podcasts, webinars), process inventory off the sales floor, and have more product available, including our own branded products. We would also increase the size of our currant sales floor! Which begs the question, what would you like to see more of?!

Level I Ask: Immediate Needs

Rent: August/September $14,000

Tax Bill: $3,000

New Floor/Repairs: $6,000

Level II Big Ask: Help Hubba Expand

Rental for new space: $20,000

Construction: $10,000

Initial new inventory: $30,000

Why should I give money to a “sex store?”

First off, we are not a “sex store.” We are, and have always been, an alternative store that also sells sexual health products, just like many mainstream stores like Target, CVS, or many department stores; except we are knowledgeable (and opinionated) and care about you and what you put on and in your body. Second, if you don’t support choice, you won’t have choice. Soon, your only option for buying products will be monopolies who will control what you see and what price you pay.

Popular misconceptions about the store are that we are not needed unless you are kinky; or until your relationship is on the rocks, are single, or enter menopause or have any other health condition, or a loved one is LGBTQ; or any myriad of reasons that people enter the store with real questions and real issues that they either haven’t gotten sufficient answers from the medical community or don’t feel comfortable discussing. But the truth is we are here for everyone. Everyday. Welcoming and accepting. Sometimes just to answer a question. Sometimes with sizes others don’t carry. Or styles not available anywhere else. Sometimes, we are just the only place left in the city.

Now, more than ever, our mission is vital. We are one of the last stores of our ilk standing, and unique in our mix, the communities we serve, and our ability to evolve.

Hubba Hubba’s Mission Statement:

Hubba Hubba strives to serve the local and alternative populations as they grow and evolve; with kit, education, and community resources.

If you can’t give, that’s ok! Thanks for reading! There are other ways to help: