Winter Hill Star Closing!

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

I was surprised as anything last night when I dropped by the market and it has reduced its hours until 5 PM -- and a sign on the door said it was closing for good on 1/26 (IIRC).

Already the shelves looked a bit on the bare side within!

It's never been a particularly great supermarket, but it was handy and quick from where I lived. I guess it was only a matter of time before the Super Stop & Shop drew away enough business.

Comments

[ron_newman]

Yep, this was covered in the Somerville Journal last month, but very poorly. The journalist never bothered to find out why Shaw's was closing this store.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

Well, and before the 24 hour Star Market that's only 5 minutes north also killed it. I'm certain they were intending to close it down all along; it always struck me that they were awfully close to each other for the same chain.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Well, I've always thought that about the Beacon Street Star, too...but it's been hanging in there for years.

[cnoocy]

I think the Beacon Street Star has a fanatical clientele.

[ron_newman]

Where is this 24 hour star market?

[vanguardcdk.livejournal.com]

Porter Sq.

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

I would love it if Foodmaster would move into the site, although I don't know if they're looking to add locations. Winter Hill really benefits from having a grocery store there.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

oh, that would be a great idea.

or maybe market basket.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

When I lived there, Super Stop and Shop wasn't TOO much more of a haul.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

I really dont like that grocery store. It always seemed poorly lit and the produce wasnt as fresh imo.

[unsi-sempai.livejournal.com]

Not having to shop there anymore is one of the best things about having moved away from Winter Hill. Terrible selection, produce that would rot within a few days of purchase, ice cream that had obviously melted and been refrozen into a horrible mushy block, high prices, extremely rude staff, expired products, etc. I am utterly unsurprised that it's closing.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Just to add that they also have a small selection of a lot of things. I would go looking for one type of granola bar only to find they only sell 3 out of the 8 flavors. This was for almost anything...they never had the full selection. I have the same issue with Johnnys Foodmaster which is sucky since they are so close to my house.

[ron_newman]

What I'd like to know is why so many years after the merger, Shaw's has yet to get rid of the name 'Star Market' for some of its stores. Not just small or outdated ones like Winter Hill, but also big or newish stores like Central Square (University Park) and Mount Auburn Street in Cambridge.

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

where is this super stop and shop that people are talking about?

[ron_newman]

McGrath Highway (or is it Fellsway by that point?), a couple blocks north of Broadway. On the former site of Somerville Lumber.

[aki.livejournal.com]

Still McGrath there...though it's techincally on some small street off the highway.

[elbren]

Winter Hill, where McGrath hits 93.
Where Somerville Lumber used to be.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

I love that stop & shop. the people who work there are always friendly and will go in back to look for anything you dont see on shelves. I find the prices cheaper than other area Stop & Shops and they have a decent meat dept. The butchers will always cut any meat I want that isnt out.

[watchamacallit.livejournal.com]

That's really a shame. Plenty of people over there live without cars and depend on that store (if the bus traffic and line of cabs waiting outside are any indication). When I lived in Winter Hill, that was the only nearby place for basics like milk, bread, etc. (The corner store by Broadway and Main was the only other option and regularly sold expired food.)

First the movie rental store, now the grocery store. What's next?!

[ron_newman]

Especially annoying to see the video store replaced by something as totally useless and unneeded as a Citibank branch. Winter Hill already has plenty of bank branches, and why would someone who lives there want to deal with a bank based in NYC?

[somertricky.livejournal.com]

You'd think some enterprising soul could make a run with a coffee shop out of the old Arco Mortgage building (between post office & what is it, Citizens Bank). They've got a captive market out front on Broadway waiting for the (usually) out-of-sync lights at School and Temple, including myself...

[mderidder.livejournal.com]

I've often thought the same thing

[jh78.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with the citibank comment. It was a shame to see the video store go, as we were frequent customers (RCN has a sad video on demand selection...) But in case you haven't noticed, Citibank has basically taken over every vacant spot in Boston. Back to Star Market- always good for the last minute item, but probably won't miss 'Ghetto Star' as we like to call it. I will never forget the grease stains on the aisle markers.....nor the man vomiting near the entrance as I was walking out one fine day....

[aki.livejournal.com]

'Cause what Boston needsis more bank branches. Maybe we could get more drug stores and chain coffee places while they're at it.

Why not Trader Joe's?

[mamarat.livejournal.com]

I would like to see Trader Joe's in the space being abandoned by Shaw's on Winter Hill. TJ food is high-quality and inexpensive. People in the neighborhood would still have a grocery store without having to go across Foss Park to the Stop and Shop. Plus I wouldn't have to drive to Arlington or Cambridge to pick up some good food cheap.

If you agree, call Trader Joe's headquarters in Needham, 781-433-0234, and tell them you want a TJ in Somerville!