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Harvest Co-op to shut down over next couple weeks
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Comments
Wow
That sux. It was iconic in JP at the old spot. Anything to do with its new building (cost) with its downfall?
Was moving to Forest Hills a mistake?
They left a busy commercial area with heavy foot traffic and ended up in a construction zone.
yeah, horrible spot
Nobody wants to go anywhere near Forest Hills if they can avoid it.
If there's a silver lining, this is good news for Happy Market -- the people who work there are awesome and their business deserves to succeed.
I still think the area would be a perfect fit for a TJ's, but that probably won't happen until the dust settles.
Where were they before?
I bet the building remains empty for at least a year.
South Street up by the Monument
They got mostly foot traffic. This place is basically for drivers from what I gathered, and when you depend on that, you are dealing with a wide area, ranging from Village Market and Roche Brothers up to Whole Foods.
I loved the new location
Very modern and clean. It had parking and was also pedestrian friendly. It was great until the Forest Hills construction started.
Too bad they couldn't hold out just a few months more. There's a bunch of new condos in the works on Urkaine Way with lots of new customers who would've liked a nearby spot for groceries.
How was it pedestrian friendly?
I mean, I could just point out that it was less pedestrian friendly than the South Street location, but even on it's own, it was a bit of a hike from Forest Hills and on the wrong side of the street from the station. On top of that, if you were heading further south, the bus stop was a ways away and in an odd location. And mind you, I've spent years walking between Forest Hills Station and Roslindale Square, but even with the new housing, the spot is still in the middle of nowhere for walkers.
Of course, if another retailer comes in and does well, the location theory is out the window. I do hope it is not empty for long.
Too bad it can't be the
Too bad it can't be the Harvard Coop shutting instead of the Harvest Coop.
What?
You all hate books? You like the idea of Harvard Square with only one general bookstore? I take it you all just moved here and don't know how far the Square has sunk over the years.
If you call living in JP
If you call living in JP since 1985 a newcomer then what?
I Call It
You clearly don't get out much.
Damn, pour one out for the Co Op
I liked the Co Op when I lived in JP. Definitely not my go-to for groceries or anything, but they had a decent beer and wine selection and the prepared foods were good. Not to mention that they always had somewhat exotic spices and veggies when needed for a recipe.
*Jeff Bezos cracks a 40 oz
*Jeff Bezos cracks a 40 oz and laughs*
Let's not be too quick to blame Amazon for this one
Whole Paycheck has been putting the squeeze on Harvest since long before Amazon bought them.
I'm bummed to see Harvest go, but the writing has been on the wall for years now. At best, Harvest was only ever maybe a 70% grocery store. Whole Foods came and took their market on the organic stuff while also selling the other 30% of things you buy on a weekly or monthly basis. People with more money than time are going to be hard to convince to come and shop at Harvest if you have to go somewhere else anyway. For most people, idealism yields to practicality at some point.
Self inflicted wounds
I'm as liberal crunchy granola as they come. Mom worked in a hippie health food store when I was a kid. In laws actually started a coop in another state that is still going strong 40 years later.
When I lived in JP I tried shopping at the old one many times, long before whole foods moved into JP. It was never a great experience. Veggies were often wilted or worse. Meat was limited and of questionable freshness. Store was always dirty and crowded, staff often rude. Everything was expensive. I remember buying the material for dinner for 2 and paying over $50 one day about 15 years ago. I couldn't really afford it and swore I'd never go back.
I did appreciate their beer selection and prepared foods, but even those areas were eventually rivaled by other nearby local retailers.
Whole foods didn't kill this coop. Bad management did.
Trader Joe’s please!
I’d even settle for a Whole Foods. It wasn’t the location, it was their ridiculous prices. Please put a Trader Joe’s here!
Second that
I think people would be more attracted to TJ's near Forest Hills - especially those who take the bus/train.
What, so traffic can get
What, so traffic can get worse? We just knocked down an overpass to try and make things better there.
If we just stopped putting
If we just stopped putting places that people want to visit in Boston the traffic problem would be gone! Or you could just stop adding parking to every development.
Aldi
Aldi ! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldi
Didldidi
Bargains, bargains, bargains!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7jVLp-n9ww
Disagree
Their prices are on par with what you see at Whole Foods, and on many items cheaper.
The move out of the area across from the tennis courts on South Street really hurt them. I lived on South and went to the co-op all the time when they were up there. When they moved to the other side of Forest Hills (which was in fact closer to my home) I hardly ever went. It meant I had to get in the car, or else traverse that lousy part of South Street across from the Forest Hills station.
Anyway, bummer to see them go.
I go to TJs for frozen fish,
I go to TJs for frozen fish, nuts, and cheese. Way better than even the regular supermarket on price.
Used to go to the one on Cambridge Street in Allston
And I had friends who worked there then, too. I also worked for a discount. I'm sorry to see Harvest go.