Say goodbye to Johnnie’s Foodmaster, a supermarket chain founded in East Cambridge in 1947. Last week it was confirmed that all 10 Foodmaster supermarkets are closing. After 65 years in business, doors are set to close on November 30th.
Reports that Whole Foods Market would purchase 6 of the 10 leases the Foodmaster chain held were confirmed last month by Whole Foods. These six locations include: South Weymouth, Arlington, Charlestown, Brookline, Melrose, and the Beacon Street store in Somerville. In addition, a seventh store in Medford will be leased by Stop & Shop.
All 6 stores will reopen as Whole Foods Markets by September 2013, officials from the Texas-based grocer confirmed. The Stop & Shop location is set to reopen by the end of the year.
However, the transaction is not without controversy. Many locals are concerned about the affordability of Whole Foods. Prices at the upscale organic food store are substantially higher than those found at today’s Foodmaster locations. However, consumer trends in Massachusetts have been changing in favor of high end food dispensers. Furthermore, Whole Foods is determined to expand in lower income areas.
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