Foodie’s Markets to close South End location, resulting in neighborhood outcry

Food News

The grocery store space was to be taken over by a private school, but school officials announced Friday they were no longer considering the location.

An independent grocery store in the South End is closing after 28 years in business, causing an uproar in the neighborhood that already pushed out a potential next tenant eyeing the spot for a private school expansion.

A press release from Foodie’s Markets began circulating online on Monday, Feb. 2, announcing that the South End location of the grocer would close in June. The Croft School, a private school with campuses in the South End, would take over the space, according to the press release. 

What followed was much objection from the neighborhood, not just because they’d lose an accessible grocery store, but also because what would take its place isn’t a retail or food-use space. 

Foodie’s Markets posted a statement from its owner, Victor Leon, on Facebook on Wednesday, to provide more clarity about why its South End location would close. 

“These are challenging times for independent grocers, and our success to date has been made possible by the incredible support of the community,” Leon said in the statement. “Despite that support, it is no longer feasible for us to continue operating at 1421 Washington St. This was a business decision — it was not a forced closure, and not a decision the Croft School was involved in or influenced.”

Leon went on to say that their building and its mechanical system needed updates that were too expensive for Foodie’s, which also operates a grocery store in South Boston. His team also knew they wouldn’t be able to find another small grocer to take Foodie’s place given how challenging it is to run such a business, the statement said. 

Despite the statement, neighbors started a Change.org petition and made their voices heard online. 

“We, the residents, business owners, property owners, and community leaders of Boston’s South End, strongly oppose the proposed conversion of the Foodie’s Market storefront into a private school, The Croft School,” the petition read. “While we recognize that we cannot control whether Foodie’s remains in operation, we can and must oppose the continued loss of essential retail and food-use space in our neighborhood.”

The petition called on the City of Boston, Boston Planning, the Zoning Board of Appeal, and the property owner (1421 Washington Associates LLC) to preserve the space as retail or food use. The petition has received more than 1,500 signatures as of Friday.

Leon showed support for the potential new tenant in his Wednesday statement, saying that the Croft School has a “desire to do good for the South End” and that many of its staff and families have frequented Foodie’s. On Thursday, Foodie’s further addressed the outcry from neighbors, asking that customers who come into the store between now and June be kind to their staff. 

“Please be emotionally kind to our staff, please try not to upset us, this is very hard for us too, we need calm and we want to do our jobs,” the post on Facebook read. “You can best support and celebrate Foodie’s by continuing to shop with us, and enjoy us and the store until we close our doors in the beginning of June. We all want to work until then. We get up every day and come to work at Foodie’s with the feeling of comfort and joy that only comes from being a close-knit unit that has worked together for many, many years in a neighborhood that we love, customers we love. Let’s keep that joy in Foodie’s as we navigate the changes that life inevitably brings.”

On Friday afternoon, the Croft School put out a statement that said the school was no longer considering the space due to the neighborhood’s concerns. 

“Being a good neighbor matters deeply to us,” the statement read. “After reflection and thoughtful conversation, we have decided not to move forward with our planned expansion at 1421 Washington Street. While we were excited about this opportunity, we believe it is more important to respond with care to what we have heard and to avoid further contributing to division at a time of real loss for the neighborhood.”

Boston.com reached out to Foodie’s for comment late Friday but didn’t hear back in time for publication. 

It seems the Southie location will be the Foodie’s Markets owner’s sole focus, as they are not looking at any other locations in the South End, and there are no plans to close the location on Broadway.

The grocery store opened in the South End in 1998, reports The Boston Sun, selling meat, produce, frozen foods, and other grocery staples for 28 years in that spot. Its South Boston location opened in 2013, according to The Boston Herald. 

Katelyn Umholtz

Food and Restaurant Reporter

Katelyn Umholtz covers food and restaurants for Boston.com. Katelyn is also the author of The Dish, a weekly food newsletter.