Roche Bros. grocery proposed for 240 Elm Street; Meeting September 10

[ron_newman]

According to a Facebook post from Alderman-at-Large Jack Connolly, Roche Bros. proposes to open a grocery store in the former Social Security Building, 240 Elm Street. They will hold an on-site meeting to discuss this on Wednesday, September 10 at 6 pm.

Roche Bros. is a local family-owned supermarket chain whose current locations are mostly in the beyond-128 suburbs. They are now building their first urban store in the former Filene's Basement space in Downtown Crossing.

I really hope this happens. I think it suits Davis Square's needs better than the previous World of Beer and Beer Works proposals.

ETA: Based on the illustration that Jack provided, what they actually seem to be proposing is a new sub-brand of smaller Roche stores called "Brothers Marketplace", whose first location opened in Weston a few months ago. Their Facebook page is more informative than their rather skeletal website.

Comments

[maelithil.livejournal.com]

I have never particularly shared the concern about the lack of grocery options in Davis since Pemberton's is not exactly a trek and is a wonderful store. I guess I should now hope that the newcomers don't undercut the competition, given that Roche Brothers IS a successful chain.

[zmook.livejournal.com]

From my perspective near Ball Square, another grocery in the area is awesome, but it has to compete with Star or there's not much point. Dave's already too expensive for anything but the occasional treat, and I've never even considered Pemberton's (which is farther away than any of them, and -- is it even a grocery? I've always assumed it was a yuppie deli with lots of artisanal mustard, but maybe I've been wrong).

[ron_newman]

Pemberton is certainly a grocery, as in a place where you can buy produce and meat and packaged goods. (Also, beer and wine.)

[jdh0625.livejournal.com]

I live right in Ball Sq. According to Google Maps walking directions, Pemberton Farms is two minutes farther than Star.

It's as expensive as you assume, though.

When it comes to grocery stores, I just wish Market Basket would get back on track...

[3rdragon]

The one time I shopped at Pemberton's (for groceries; I've bought plants there more than once), it seemed upscale, but didn't actually have most of the upscale-grocery sorts of things that I was looking for, and while the produce was nice, the other normal-grocery things were more expensive than some of my other options, and it's less convenient for me than other places that do sell my upscale groceries, so I haven't been back. But I probably buy an unusual range of groceries.