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Fields Corner to get fun-sized Target
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Comments
Dunno about this one...
There is one of these “mini” targets on Comm Ave in Brighton and it seems like everything is overpriced. Maybe that’s just because the prices are jacked up for college students? Or they only sell certain items there?
Why can’t they just put a Walmart in Boston again?
Small vs. large Targets
The "fun size" Targets are for convenience items without paying obscene convenience store prices; the larger Targets have a lot more stuff.
I actually prefer the Fenway Target (although the Watertown one comes close) because it sells far more than the "fun size" Targets. The Roslindale "fun size" one is OK, but I only go there if I don't feel like schlepping to Fenway.
Local opposition
@Pete Nice Walmart pays low wages, cannot stand unions and the seriously disrupt local merchants cash flow. Bostonian's like their local mom and pop stores.
You speak for Bostonians?
Bostonians realize want as many options for shopping aa anyone else in America. Places like Walmart especially helps families with kids stretch their budgets.
Walmart pays employees the same as Target. Benefits are the same.
And I'm union.
And I'm union. No you're not
No you're not
Wrong,
I certainly am union. I basically have to be; but it serves a purpose. Unions have their pluses and minuses. Collective bargaining contract is superior to being an Employee at Will for the majority of people. I believe ever worker should have the emplyee rights unions afford. I wonder why this is so hard to accomplish. It has occurred to me that it's in the best intrrests of the folks who oprrate and manage the unions that this never happens.
That sounds nice and all
But I still think a Walmart somewhere in Boston does more harm than good.
Wal*Mart has done lots of harm wherever they've set up.
Wal*Mart has also killed off many, if not most of the mom-and-pop businesses wherever they've decided to set up roots, their employees are paid peanuts, and they've even had to apply for public assistance in order to get health insurance.
Other big-box stores have helped kill off many of the mom-and-pop businesses as well, and done considerable damage where they've established roots, but not to the extent that Wal*Mart has.
At one point, Wal*Mart attempted to establish a grocery store in Somerville's Assembly Square (now called Assembly Row, which I live five minutes from), but, due to not being welcome in the area, they were not able to get the necessary permits and/or whatever, and thankfully, they moved on.
Meh
There are stores all over MA. I go there so I can get a quality grill cover for $20 instead of $70 or a tumbler for $12 instead of $30. Or maybe a two casual shirts for $12 instead of $40.
Maybe someone wants a nice part time job for two days a week at nights to supplement their income (would cover a car payment easily or food for the month even in MA)
Again, it sound nice but I think in reality it helps poorer people rather than hurts them.
Walmart withdrew their Somerville proposal
before it ever got as far as being formally submitted to any Somerville planning or zoning board. It would have gone into the former Circuit City (next to Home Depot) -- which is STILL vacant today.
The city government was actually somewhat sympathetic to the idea, and there was little if any local public protest.
But Walmart was facing fierce opposition at the same time to its proposal for a full-size store in Watertown. When they withdrew the Watertown proposal, they cancelled Somerville's as well.
Excellent
This will be a great addition to the neighborhood. I hate America's Food Basket next door - dirty, overpriced, badly managed, food desert level store and glad to have Target as another option (not that Target is my favorite either). Can we just get a Market Basket already!?
I feel differently about these mini Targets in other neighborhoods, like Rozzie, that already have ample long standing friendly neighborhood stores nearby.
What neighborhood stores compete?
What neighborhood stores compete against Target? Most were wiped out long ago. I see mini-Targets as taking the place of Woolworths, a longtime anchor or neighborhoods and villages.
Maybe some bodegas and convenience stores might get hit on food sales. Cheaper food in neighborhoods is pretty good for everyone, though, especially those struggling to get by.
Plus, the more people stay and shop in their neighborhoods, the less they drive and do all their shopping elsewhere.
I see no real downsides.
Don't know about Fields Corner
But when Target announced plans to sell groceries in Roslindale, people got upset about the potential impact on the Village Market, which is a locally owned supermarket a couple blocks away.
As others have noted
The location was once a Bradlees, which I am sure you remember. Basically the same size as a mini-Target, if not bigger.
As for Roslindale Square, perhaps if Menino had allowed Brooks to set up, Village Market wouldn't be sweating now. But as I always say, competition is good. I still use Village Market and I use Target.
Regionally owned?
I thought the family that runs the place were out of the South Shore somewhere, no?
I also shop at both Target and Village Market. If I need something random like paper or a toy, Target is a nice walkable option. I'll buy food when in there if I need something but not as a destination just convenience.
The Greek fish market and the International meat market are the two Rosi grocery shops I frequent the least - what's good in those places?
AFB
I have never been in the one on HP Ave. Is it also like that?
Is this the former Bradlees?
Bradlees used to have a store in Fields Corner. When that chain closed, Target took over a number of their other locations, such as Somerville and Watertown.
Yes it was Bradlees
This location used to be Bradlees, where Mrs. B. buys. There was also another Bradlees 5 minutes away on Morrissey Blvd.
Another commenter mentioned America's Food Basket next door. I agree it is dirty, has surly employees, and a frustrating rule that all customers must check all bags and backpacks. But it has a large selection of Central American products and the biggest freshest bunches of cilantro you will find anywhere. There was a story in the Dorchester Reporter in 2015 that AFB
was going to be replaced by another supermarket, but it never happened. https://www.dotnews.com/2015/supermarket-shuffle-food-basket-out-save-lo...
Wow
I didn't mention the employees, but surly is a good way to describe. :)
I understand the bag check policy to reduce the number the thefts in the store, but I feel like Market Basket would offer the same selection of Central American foods in that location. The Chelsea Market Basket has more Central American foods than Woburn (including a different cream for every single Central American country), for example, as they modify inventory per locale. Yes, I'm obsessed with Market Basket and will never be happy in life until one moves to Dorchester (and selfishly I hope Fields Corner).
Arthur T Demoulas, I'm begging you!
Not in Dorchester
but people in Quincy are hoping it comes to the Big Y store in Quincy that is leaving because of the lease being up.
They have great produce,
They have great produce, fruits and veggies and spices you can’t find anywhere else.
That spot has been bad luck for retail.
I hope they succeed.
I know that's right
So many stores have come & gone over there and my personal opinion it's due the never ending theft. I would love a Target (mini or not) for convenience. I mean, I know there are shoplifters everywhere but damn, let us have & keep a decent store around for those of us who walk, take the malfunctioning, high priced for no reason ass T, or whatever.