South End market closure sparks food access debate
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The impending closure of a South End market has sparked a debate over what should replace it — another grocer or a growing private school.
The big picture: Foodie's Markets' South End location is the latest small grocer in the Boston area to shutter.
- The closure of the Daily Table's stores last year and mounting concerns about food insecurity have prompted Boston city councilors to consider launching a city-run grocery store.
- "Operating a small, independently owned grocery store has become increasingly challenging in today's economic environment," Victor G. Leon, Foodie's general manager, said in a statement announcing the closure.
Catch up quick: Foodie's announced on Monday that its store at 1421 Washington St. will close in June after 30 years.
- Foodie's South Boston store will remain in business.
- The Croft School, a private preschool down the street, struck a deal with the Washington Street landlords to expand into the space and renovate it, per a joint news release by Foodie's, the landlord and the school.
State of play: The move outraged some South End residents, who decried the loss of another small, locally owned grocer.
- A petition created Tuesday calls on city zoning officials to reject any proposals by the property owner to convert the retail space.
- Laurel McConville, a South End resident who created the petition, noted that the school has already moved into four former retail spaces since 2022, including the now-shuttered Stella restaurant and Stella cafe.
What they're saying: "The South End cannot afford to lose its only grocery-capable space to yet another school expansion," McConville wrote on the webpage.
- It's garnered more than 1,300 signatures so far.
- McConville tells Axios the campaign isn't about opposing the preschool's expansion, but rather preserving ground-level retail space.
Leon, the property owners and the Croft School declined to comment beyond the news release through a spokesperson.
- Leon shared a separate statement on Facebook saying it wasn't financially feasible to keep the market open and that the Croft School shares "a desire to do good for the South End."
- "We hope there will be a respectful community dialogue and process as they share their vision for the future of this space."