Do you think they will hire the employees of Johnnies?

I am looking forward to not having to drive far out of my way to be able to get foods that are safe for my family and friends with a variety of food allergies. I have been involved with grocery store turn-overs, and generally we had work for all store employees before the store opened - it involved resetting, working on completing signage, stocking, retraining to the new store's methods, etc. So, hopefully, the people from Johnnie's won't be out of work for too long before they can start employment with Whole Foods.

Hooray!! This is great news for Melrose!!

Awesome.

This is great for the town. Yes, its expensive, but there are still plenty of inexpensive options, and if you buy the Whole Food generic stuff, its actually quite cheap. Whole Foods also does great things for the local community. Its a national chain (Austin, TX based), but they respect local. Go Melrose, and welcome Whole Foods. - Ben Carcio

Great news for the town as a whole. It's not going to be without it's negatives (traffic pattern not ideal for increased traffic at those intersections, elderly within walking distance who may feel priced out of local grocery options, and suboptimal parking lot for that kind of traffic), but in general, so many positives, and a great boon to the quality of life in Melrose that didn't need to be financed entirely by the City of Melrose to have to happen.

Just another sign that Melrose is losing its down-home comfortable feel. We do not need a Whole Food as there are several within a ten minute drive. Johnnies was part of the neighbor offering affordable prepared meals that many of the seniors and lower income folk purchased. They were involved in helping our local food pantries, sponsored a gifts for seniors drive during the holidays, and helped to employee special needs folks- I have seen none of this ever at a Whole Foods. I do not find it to be a benefit overall to the community as a whole.

Where are the remaining inexpensive options for groceries in Melrose? It's no coincidence that Shaw's has had to close many stores over the last few years -- except for the limited loss-leader items they are a rip-off compared to Foodmaster for example. I am not opposed to Whole Foods per se. I like to go there for the occasional luxury item. But I wish they weren't subsuming Foodmaster. If I had to choose between one or the other I would not choose Whole Foods.

Terrible news for the city in my opinion. All this does is drive the price of groceries even higher than they already are. Whole Foods isn't a Supermarket that you can go to and buy a house full of food for. It's more of a specialty store who prides them selves on so-called "high quality" foods when in reality they're just the same provider as any other market out there but with a more chic design and new age look that they use to justify higher costs. With Johnny's out of the competitive market this gives Shaw's plenty of reason to discontinue coupon runs, eliminate further rewards programs, and raise their prices. Why cannibalize your profit margins when you no longer need to?

And as others mentioned, there's an elderly highrise right next door to Johnny's where many of the citys seniors go to shop, which will be a non-option for them at Whole Foods. Our senior community can't afford to shop regularly at Whole Foods. They are just not the target demographic.

Do not approve. At all.

I proudly welcome Whole foods. Their produce last much longer and they stand by their products. I can't even keep track at how many expired foods I accidentally purchased at either Shaw's or Johnnie's because they 'forget' to rotate their stock. The other wholefoods may be 20 min away without traffic, but let's get real people, in a normal commute, it's about 45 min. Not convenient. Can't wait till it opens in 2013!

Julie, no offense but I do frequent both the Whole Foods in Medford and Woburn and it never takes me more than 10 - 20 minutes to get to them, even in rte 16 traffic. I do not consider Whole Foods an every day type of grocery store and have never had an issue spending a few more minutes driving to them when needed. Johnnies definitely needs improvement- the produce is not the best, the store is older, but my opinion is not based on my choosing Johnnies over WF but rather choosing an all around day to day affordable grocery store that serves a wider base of the city's population over a higher end specialty store.

No offense taken but the only way one can get to the Medford or Woburn stores in 10 minutes from Melrose is by helicopter. The margins are too slim to support a low-cost grocery store occupying a meager a 25,000 sf. That's what the Market Basket/Zoo in Reading is for. The community should be thankful the store will be reoccupied vs. vacant like happens in most of the rest of America with undersized retail locations.

If you can make it to Medford or Woburn Whole Foods in 10-20 minutes, please share your route! As for employees with special needs, I've seen them at almost every Whole Foods I've ever shopped at in multiple states! Not only were they working the front lines (bagging, corralling carts, etc.) but in the bakery, etc. I often see workshop-style employees assembling boxes and cartons with their job coaches at the Fresh Pond store. Hooray for Melrose and congrats to Foodmaster. WIN-WIN.

I vary my weekly shopping between Market Basket, Whole Foods, and Johnnie's, with the occasional trip to Shaw's. While Market Basket is cheapest hands down, I find that my bill at Whole Foods is only slightly higher than Johnnies or Shaws, unless I"m buying a lot of meat or specialty items. Staple items and produce are comparably priced, and the quality of the meat and produce is MUCH better at WF than Johnnies or Shaw's. The canned tomatoes I prefer are CHEAPER at WF than at Johnnies.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it, nay-sayers.

Betsey, I have - and for us, it doesn't work. For our family, Whole Foods is too expensive for everyday shopping. Please consider that it just doesn't work for everyone, and allow us to have our opinion.

The larger point is that Mr. DeJesus has made a decision to sell the Melrose store. No one can wish that decision back. No other grocery chains are going to take this small of a space except for WF, which generally makes up for smaller spaces with higher margins. Yes, higher prices. I'd rather have a WF vs. an empty store or a further subdivided block with a pizza shop, nail salon and lottery outlet. Melrose/Wakefield/Stoneham have the density and demographic to make the WF work. Not to mention the City will get more property tax revenue given the income approach to valuation which is used for commercial properties. This point should not be understated, as more economic activity and tax revenue, on balance, makes the community stronger, especially for the less fortunate. For those who need it, there is reliable 136/7 bus service to Market Basket in Reading.

Since the primary concern seems to be that the seniors will be priced out of WF, perhaps the city can use some of the extra revenue to run more senior buses to Market Basket.

Betsey, if you are pleased with WF coming in to town, that is all to the good, and I respect your right to that opinion. To your point about respect - "Put that in your pipe and smoke it, nay-sayers." Enough said.

well Melrose get ready to dig deeper into your pocket because organic means $$$$. what we really needed was a Market Basket in my opinion.

It seems quite a few of you worry about how the 20 minute or so ride to Medford or Woburn is for you...well what about the elderly who live next door to Johnnies..where do they go now..most don't have cars..do you worry how they can get to an affordable market?

I'm excited to have a nice produce, seafood and cheese selection within walking distance, and I welcome Whole Foods.

I'm a new resident of Melrose and made my first trip to Johnnie's Foodmaster two weeks ago and I was appalled. The meat and seafood quality were horrible, and also not priced well. The produce was also horrible. However, the worst thing I saw while there was the $6.99 small package of feta that had mold on it. That is unacceptable. I wouldn't go there again, and now make the trek to Trader Joe's on route 1 for 90% of my shopping, with supplements from Stop & Shop if needed.

betsey - noted, and appreciated. thank you. :)

all very good points made here... But it's a sealed deal and time will tell how it will all turn out. I hope that when they interview the employees, they keep in mind that THEY did not choose this and they should have first dibs on job positions at WF. It'd be unfair to do if any other way.

has anyone found more details on the timeline? i'm wondering what 'end of fiscal year 2013' means, for the new store opening.

I am thrilled to have WF in walking distance of my house. Yes, it may be an issue for seniors at McCarthy House but IMHO Johnnie's is a dump, and a pricey one at that. Anyone who has been to midwestbor far west grocery would surely concur. And don't even get me started on their parking lot which is always overflowing with trash. Hopefully WF will set and uphold high standards of cleanliness.
One thing surprises me, no one has mentioned Trader Joes.

i am sure WF will be sensitive to elderly in our town. Johnnies was just not a go -to supermarket . WF will be a great addition to our town. the two current markets just don't have a drawing power.

BB

I'm with Misty. Johnnie's is a dump. I've purchased ransid pork, and the fish always looks gross. The produce is sad. I go out to Rte 1 for Trader Joe's sometimes, but their meat and produce is limited at best (better for dry goods). Plus, Rte 1 is a death trap.

Can't wait for Whole Foods!

I don't think it's quite fair to blame Johnnie's for the abundance of junk in the parking lot. If I remember right, the store space is leased, and that would make the lot the responsibility of the property owner, would it not?

The last thing the average resident needs in the midst of the 2nd worst economy in 80 yrs. Just another example of the 2% doing just fine (despite the economy) at the expense and inconvienience of everyone else.. Ride up and down the streets in the local neighborhood/s and you see a working class neighborhood / community. Melrose will be left with one remaing supermarket (shaws) in the square which is overcrowded, pricey and with inadequate parking. We, "the majority" of residents do not need an upscale organic market (with 20% higher prices). "Organic" is available in every supermarket these days incl Shaws. Let the trasplant "snobs" be inconvienenced and drive their comfy BMWs for the finer thing they deserve. Let's be real, as bad as Johnnies was, it was a convienient alternative and and an old school bargain. Lets be clear, this is not good news for the average resident, especially our large neighborhood population of elderly and handicaped living on fixed incomes.. Go to hell rich, pretenious snobs ..

Wow, Edward. Thank you for making a new Melrose resident feel really welcome in her new town. And for the record, I don't believe a $7 piece of moldy feta should be considered an old school bargain.

Welcome to Melrose and (for the record) I'm guessing all newly arrived (rich) people aren't snobs.. Johnnie's is about milk, bread, american cheese, a bag of chips, a bottle of tonic, toilet paper (you know the basics).. Pace's up the street in Saugus Farmland in Wakefield Sq and Trader Joe's on Rte 1 Saugus have some great cheeses, etc and McKinnons on Broadway Everett has some great meats (along with stop and shop) Shaws in Wakefield Sq is huge and has a large gormey section.. Have a seat in Liberty Bell (next to johnnies) to get a sense of the neighborhood (try their haddock salmon scallops or steak tips) or try a Roast Beef Sandwich or a Chicken with Feta in a pocket at Billy's up the street in Greenwood. Both establishments have greek propriters..

Minus the "snob" comment (maybe truth, but still harsh) I think Edward puts it PERFECTLY. Whole Foods is here to capitalize on a lack of "organic" options where they know they can maximize profits because Melrose is definitely a transplant town that caters to a higher income family. The fallacy of them providing better quality food is exactly that. Their fresh meat and produce may be cared for in a more precise manner, but they don't offer anything else that another large market COULD provide, but do not. It's like buying a diamond from a no-name jeweler, or Tiffany. Same item, different presentation.

I made it a point to head into Johnnie's yesterday morning to get snacks for our Halloween party and EVERY conversation I overheard was about the sale and none of which were positive. The folks in the back at the meat counter were not happy about the sale saying they've been there for 15 years and won't be applying to work at Whole Foods because it's "not his kind of store".

The people I feel especially bad for though are the cashiers and baggers. Johnnie's ALWAYS hired either HS students trying to get their foot in the corporate door, or some nice elderly individuals who needed something to supplement their income. They also live in the elderly living residencies nearby which eliminates the need for them to commute. Def a plus. Whole Foods won't hire those people. They don't fit their "image" and that's the reality. Apply all the want, they'll be out of the job.

Only in a place as provincial as Massachusetts could a new grocery store lead to a discussion about who is and who is not a transplant. (And I'm born and raised here in MA, by the way). It's not a relevant distinction and has zero bearing on WF or Johnnie's. There are plenty of longtime residents who are pro WF and plenty who will miss Johnnie's. Same goes for the transplants. Let's put aside that part of this debate and focus on things that are actually relevant to the discussion.

Whole Foods in moving into town in place of Johnnie's. That seems to be a fact that this debate cannot change.

Before we rush to judgement regarding Whole Foods' a) commitment to the city charitably, b) its hiring practices and c) its pricing (which has variances by location) shouldn't we hold-off until the place opens?

Josh, I don't want to pick apart your last comment because I think you've made some really thoughtful comments throughout, but your point about hiring is complete speculation. If Johnnie's employees apply to WF, WF is going to deny a qualified candidate based on their appearance? I don't see it. I don't think any Johnnie's employees have appearance problems to begin with.

I am personally pro-WF. Look, Johnnie's was fine, but I'll speak to my personal experience there - I have purchased spoiled meat, spoiled milk, nearly rotten produce, expired products. This is not speculation. I am speaking from personal experience. How could I not support WF, given that?

Be patient! In 2014 you can go to Wegman's in Burlington. Oy!

The entire chain is closing according to http://www.boston.com/businessupdates/2012/11/02/johnnie-foodmaster-closing-all-its-stores-liquidator-says/AJxqEW55NCuP5FjYYacbLK/story.html One more reason to be glad WF is buying and we're not just going to be left with a vacant space.

Can I just say that anyone who thinks Johnnie's offered reasonable prices should, do their homework, I usually shop Market Basket but don't always venture their if I only need a we items. Yesterday I stopped at Hannafords for a new last minute supplies and I made careful it of cost as Io knew it would have been less at MB. Today I stopped into Johnnies hoping to score a few close out bargains. I decided to check prices of items purchased yesterday at Hannafords. As I suspected, Johnnie's prices were at Least 20% HIGHER than the already pricey Hannafords,
No, I will not purchase household staples such as paper towels or toilet paper at WF. But I do look forward to fresh produce and a CLEAN store!

I lived in Melrose for 16 years and I can tell you that whole Foods is too pricey for the working folks that live in Melrose. That means that yuppies will be coming in from other towns. This will be a big boost for Shaws down the street Shaws isalready is already too costly. Now Shaws will ratchet up their prices even more now. More Melrose folks will make the trip to Market Basket in Reading or Chelsea and the convenient stores will pick up more small bread and milk orders. It's a shame really things are already to expensive for ordinary people.

Sorry for typos and syntax errors in previous post. Sometimes auto-type functionality on my IPad comes up with some doozies. I need to carefully proof prior to posting or not type when I am tired.

I am thrilled that Melrose is finally getting a decent grocery store with a variety of healthy options. I wonder if Whole Foods will have any ownership of the Honey Dew Donuts space because it would be great to have a Starbucks in that plaza.

I went to Johnnies yesterday hoping to get some groceries at "closeout prices", but most items are only 10% off. That doesn't even put them at Market Basket prices... The cold cuts would have been a good deal (20% off), but I never buy them there solely because they use a piece of paper in the plastic bag and it gets soggy. It makes making a sandwich gross and messy.

Visited Johnnie's again last night to get some remaining cooking and baking supplies and a few random things. EVERYTHING in the store is 10% off and I find it hilarious people who said Johnnie's quality and pricing isn't that good, yet the store yesterday was PACKED with those same people. Also to the people complaining here that it's "ONLY" 10% off, what were you expecting to go in the day after they announce the closing, to get food for pennies on the dollar? It's no different than any other clearance. As time goes by, prices will go down but so will selection. Stop being so negative all the time, it's bad enough that the business is going away, but now you can't even be satisfied with their decision to discount foods you would have had to buy at regular rates a month ago? Sheesh.

Also, to someone who said earlier that WF not hiring the employees was "speculation", WF isn't going to be open until August 2013 at the earliest, what are the current employees of Johnnie's supposed to do until then? They're out of the job for almost a year with the "promise" of an interview and nothing more next summer. Greeeeat..

It should be called "Yuppiville". What a nice Xmas present for employees and seniors at the McCarthy apartaments. Wait for the bus to get to Shaws. Mr. Potter has arrived.

Perhaps WF will result in a cleanup of Towers Plaza. Johnnie's and the other mal merchants could and should do a better job of keeping the premises clean. Earlier comments citing shaws Wakefield, Trader Joe's, Reading Market Basket and Hannafords, all clean and appealing! A dirty parking lot as well as littered store entrance makes you wonder how the areas not accessible to the public are kept. Each and every one of us, residents and business owners alike, should take pride and do our part to ensure a clean and safe living environment.

This is basic supply and demand. Like it, or hate it, there is obviously a market for Whole Foods, that does not exist to the degree it does for Johnnies. I personally found Johnnies to be far more expensive than my other local options (ie; Market Basket). Whole Foods can be expensive on a different scale, but at least they are meeting demand for safe food to feed our children.

Feedazle, I apologize in advance but nobody "meets the demand for safe food to feed our children" except the parents of said children. Whole Foods is no different than any other supermarket chain except in that they promote an "organic" line of food and charge a premium price for it. Something that is obviously of no concern to individuals who shop at Johnnies or the aforementioned Foodmaster.

Josh, your comment makes no sense. How can the parents meet the demand? They create the demand, and Wholefoods meets it. Fedazzle is 100% correct.

How can the parents meet the demand to feed their kids a healthy diet? Wow. I'm not sure how to address that ludicrous statement. I guess I would start by suggesting they read the ingredients in the foor they're feeding kids? Knowing what's part of a healthy diet. Ensuring they take in healthier options over junk and processed food? What supermarket you shop at doesn't determine how well kids eat. Parents do.

What you are describing is demand creation. A parent wanting to feed their children healthy organic alternatives CREATES demand. The demand is thereafter MET by Whole Foods when they provide organic options to consumers. It is basic economics. Consumers do not meet demands.

Eating healthy isn't a DEMAND. It's a requirement. Whole Foods isn't some miracle cure for a poor diet. They offer the same products that you can get at Johnnie's, Shaws, or Market Basket. They've simply marketed their "premium" product better than anyone else. It's no different than Verizon FiOS making consumers believe that they're the first company to do fiber optic telecommunications, when others were doing it long before they even attempted to think about it. Every market meets the demand, and whether parents choose to recognize that or even be smart enough to figure it out, is not because we don't have a Whole Foods here. I'm sure Melrose isn't going to turn into the fit-lifestyle capital of the Greater Boston Region because Whole Foods has now come to save us from ourselves.

Now you are getting into the world of marketing and advertising and how it changes consumer perception, which is much more complex than a simple supply and demand issue. I don't disagree that to a certain level Whole Foods relies on its brand to get consumers to believe they need to buy all 'organic' to be healthy. But to say that Whole Foods doesn't provide something additional over a Johnnies or Market Basket is simply wrong. Why are you so against additional choices? If you don't like Whole Foods, drive the extra 1 mile to a Market Basket or Stop and Shop. You can take your demand elsewhere.

I found this piece of paper on the ground today on Lebanon Street:

"November 19th, 2012 -

Dear Diary,

Well, went to Johnnie's today again and cried as I grabbed the last of the "manager special" meats. Oh how I will miss this low-quality, over-salted, 2-weeks-over-shelf-life meat from the deli. I wiped a tear as I clutched at the crap in the $0.50 bin. OH, HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME, FOODMASTER!? HOW COULD YOU SELL OFF THIS WONDERFUL BASTION OF CRAPPY SUB-STANDARD FOOD? Why would you even bow to these fancy fatcats with CARS.... and their organic carrots and VIOLINS! THEY ALL WANT THE VIOLINS! DAMN YOU WHOLEFOODS!

xoxo,

butthurt in melrose"

All of the new Whole Foods locations which have opened recently start out offering mainly the really high-margin stuff like prepared meals, fancy cheese, cookies, etc., while minimizing the amount of basic product they stock. Eventually each location goes through a makeover where they start to sell more of the budget-friendly items. I expect the same from this new Melrose location. Just gotta be patient with them as they figure out what to sell in the local market.

The new owner of Towers Plaza has an actual street sweeper service that is doing the plaza now. Before garbage would just sit there until it blew into Main Street to be picked up by city street sweepers. Unbelievable difference in the trash factor. Looking forward to the signage/lighting/landscaping improvements to the plaza that are supposed to come. I can't see Liberty Bell surviving in this new environment.

Why?