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Supermarket to replace Central Square supermarket
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Comments
Great News as long as...
The parking lots are still available to the farmers' market and other local food uses. I hope that the local food uses of the space in back were not dealt away in the new shuffle.
I would welcome an H Mart with both the supermarket and food court. This will bring cause an improvement in all the other Asian markets if they are to compete with this one.
Just posted this to Chowhound's Boston board where I think it will make a lot of folks very happy. Especially those of us who rely on walking and public transit to gather our food supplies.
H Mart is great
I know there is one around here north of the city, but to have one on public transportation would be a fantastic addition to the city.
The metered lots with entry
The metered lots with entry from Bishop Allen are city-owned, I believe. I think only the one on Essex immediately adjacent to the side entrance is privately owned.
That being said, I've never gone to those farmer's markets, so I don't know which of these lots they are using. If it's in one of the city-owned lots, I'd be surprised if this has any impact.
Moving into Jax
The old Jax outlet is definitely smaller, narrower space - I wonder if they'll be able to have a cafe still.
More importantly, I'm amazed that Jax is now actually out of business. I mean, they only had their "Going out of Business" banner up for 18 months!
Oh, Jax
They pulled that in Roslindale, too.
Jax?
Is that what used to be there? FD doesn't seem like a long-standing place in the neighborhood.
Yep
And there was a similar, non-chain store on Poplar, where that place that sells large ceramic tigers is now.
Ceramic tigers...
And paintings of African American women in suggestive positions. Hot sellers, I bet.
The cafe won't be crossing the street
The early word was that the cafe would not be relocating with Harvest at this time. It is a separate owner who will wait to decide if he wants to reopen in another location.
Asian supermarkets and parking
Not addressed in the article: Parking.
H-Mart up in Burlington/Woburn is great, but parking is terrible. I've had to abandon trips there because the parking lot is completely full and even the access roads in back are lined with cars. Hong Kong Market in Allston (formerly Super 88) has similar parking problems, although the spillover lot helps a little.
I can't imagine it's going to be any better for a large Asian supermarket in Central Square.
Parking not needed here
since this is Central Square, on the Red Line.
Super 88
There's like a zillion metered spots on the streets behind Allston Super 88 and the Shaw's ... they're almost never occupied during the day.
A few quarters saves you a lot of hassle.
Also it's on the Green Line and the 57, but you knew that :P
Parking
There's actually quite a bit of parking in the area. Metered lots behind and a garage on Green Street just a short block away, which I think only fills up during snow emergency.
But this will attract a lot of foot traffic, given that the entrance is literally just steps (about 15', if that) from the Red Line.
Central Square could use a
Central Square could use a few mom and pop dollar stores. And no, I'm not being sarcastic. I know CVS and Walgreens get their panties in a bunch at the mere mention of a dollar store, as do snobs, but they serve a vital purpose in modern urban America. I suppose if someone opened a progressive 'organic' and 'fair trade' 10 dollar store, there would be 50 replies on here from 'progressive' neighborhood 'advocates and activists' praising it.
Do mom and pop dollar stores still exist?
as opposed to Family Dollar and its two competing chains (not found around here - Dollar Tree and Dollar General)?
Years ago, Davis Square had a mom-and-pop dollar store, but one weekend it closed without any notice. Now it's an expanded seating area for Blue Shirt Cafe.
"Super 99 cents plus"
I noticed that on Dot Ave today. It might be a chain, though.
Cheap-o chains
There are a few Dollar Trees around (you may have just been referencing Cambridge though) -- Chelsea leaps to mind, but there are others a little further out in the burbs. Big Lots and Ocean State Lots and another whose name escapes me, along with Christmas Tree Schlock, there are a number of places to buy cheap, plastic overstock from China that breaks in under 20 minutes.
I would go out of my way to find a store that sold things that don't break or aren't complete shit (talking to you Home Despot and BLowes). Clothes from Target, Kohl's or >shudder< WalMart are in shreds in under a year of normal use and washing. Designed obsolescence has gone beyond computers and into every product we buy. I'm willing to pay more at Mom and Pop stores -- whether they be hardware stores, food marts or whatever - but they can't be carrying the same crap that the Big Box-Chains carry. Unfortunately most people don't spend more for quality or durability but for name recognition and novelty - feeding that obsolescence cycle.
Dollar Tree is definitely
Dollar Tree is definitely found around here - Twin City Plaza.
This will probably
deal a real blow to the Korean market between Central Square and MIT.