McKinnon's will be closing

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

I just came home from McKinnon's.  I spoke with the guy in the Deli counter.  They will be sadly closing somewhere early next year.  Jan 2 earliest, but maybe into Feb or March.  The owner is 75 years old, no energy to restart.  They're not selling it, and the rent is too expensive for someone else to pick it up.

So sad.

edit, Dec 3: There's apparently a sign in the store's window saying they are not closing. There's another post in this davis square community discussing that.

Comments

[ron_newman]

All of the other McKinnon's stores except this one are part of this small local chain. I wonder why the owner couldn't sell this location to them?

[serious-noir.livejournal.com]

Huh. I'd always thought it was part of that chain.

Too bad they are closing– now there will be no place to buy simple groceries in DS.

[ron_newman]

I don't know the whole story of why they have the same name as a local chain that they aren't part of. (Family breakup, perhaps?)

[ron_newman]

I filled out this contact form on the chain's web site and got a quick reply from Eric Boucher, eboucher@mckinnonsmarkets.com :

The McKinnon's Meat Market in Davids Sq., Somerville has not been affiliated with the McKinnon's Markets of Everett, Danvers, Salem, NH & Portsmouth NH since the late 1960's.

The McKinnon Brothers owned the stores in Everett & Somerville together from 1946 to about 1968. When they sold them, they sold to two separate owners and the stores have been separate companies ever since, just sharing the name in common.

[serious-noir.livejournal.com]

Thanks for following up.


One wonders about the economics of that sort of store in that size space. It always seems packed when I've been there but maybe they can't do enough volume.

[ron_newman]

I wrote back to ask if there is any chance the chain could take over the Davis Square store. If I get another reply, I'll post that here too.

I've never been to any of the chain's stores. Are they larger?

[serious-noir.livejournal.com]

I've only driven by the one in Everett. Seemed about 2-3 times larger storefront.

[she-of-emeralds.livejournal.com]

Aw shoot. :(

[mzrowan.livejournal.com]

Maybe Roche Bros will move into that space instead, then?

[ron_newman]

Too small, I think.

Major loss to Davis Square

[smk0307.livejournal.com]

This makes me so sad. I've lived in the Square for 15 years and have seen it seem less and less like a neighborhood and more like a destination. McKinnon's is one of the last of the neighborhood shops. I'll miss the store, but even more the folks who work there.

RE: Major loss to Davis Square

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

+1

RE: Major loss to Davis Square

[lb-lee.livejournal.com]

I know, right? I live in JP and STILL get stuff from McKinnon's! They have the best prices for delicious sun-dried tomatoes in Boston! I'm so sad.

[hikermtnbiker.livejournal.com]

+2

[abilouise.livejournal.com]

+3

[teko.livejournal.com]

From everything I've seen about McKinnon's, the place was driven by the work ethic of their owner and his mission to sell quality meat cheap enough for anyone to enjoy. I had always feared that when he got too old to keep up his schedule, or if the rent got too high, they wouldn't be able to keep going. I just had hoped that would take awhile longer.

Alderman Davis: THIS is the kind of business that makes Davis Square a neighborhood. Losing McKinnon's is a huge blow to the community here.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

I haven't been there in a while since I don't live within easy walking distance anymore (it's about a 40-45 minute walk now, and not on my way to or from work), but yeah, they always have had great meat for the price. I always got great stuff there--particularly the wonderful lamb leg steaks that are just right for two people, and which NO ONE ELSE ever seems to carry! *sigh*

I may need to head over there this weekend and put some stuff in the freezer...

[nomacmac.livejournal.com]

I wonder how big of an impact the construction at the Social Security Building has had on McKinnons. They had to shut down for a few days when there was fear of building collapse (and probably had to toss a lot of perishables), frequent road closures, restricted street parking. I really hope they can turn it around. It will be a huge loss to the community if they close.

[teko.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing a pretty large impact, sadly. McKinnon's operates on razor thin margins to keep prices low, and the construction has been closing Chester Street on a regular basis for months, which is the main way to access the closest major parking lot to McKinnons.

[wintahill.livejournal.com]

This is sad news. McKinnon's is a great local small business, with very fair and reasonable pricing. Their closing will be a big loss to Davis Sq and the nearby residents.

[nomacmac.livejournal.com]

I don't understand why the owner wouldn't try to sell the business. It would certainly be hard to make it successful, but it seems like there must be someone out there who would like to try. I will admit that I don't know anything about selling a business, but it seems like it would be easier to have someone take over an existing business (including keeping employees), than having to deal with terminating employees, selling the fixtures, etc.

[ron_newman]

Their latest weekly ad, for December 2-8, says

THERE IS NO TRUTH TO THE RUMOR THAT MCKINNON'S IS CLOSING

[trowa-barton.livejournal.com]

Now, we are REALLY confused.

[teko.livejournal.com]

I hope this is a "it was all a misunderstanding" situation, because I remember when the Rosebud kept issuing denials of their closing as they were in negotiations to be sold.

[ron_newman]

They also now have a sign in their window:

Correct the incorrect entry?

[laura47.livejournal.com]

Perhaps we could get an edit on the main entry here, given that there's enough comments to not see the correction.

RE: Correct the incorrect entry?

[ron_newman]

As a moderator, I don't have the power to edit anyone else's post, but I did make a new post.

(Although I do have the power to delete posts, I don't want to do so in this case, as it would wipe out useful discussion. Also, Karyn could turn out to be correct after all.)

RE: Correct the incorrect entry?

[clauclauclaudia]

I'm dropping her an email. I'm sure her post is accurate, just no longer up to date. ;-)

RE: Correct the incorrect entry?

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

I have edited the original entry to make mention of the sign in the window and the other post in this forum.