‘Devastating' closure of Daily Table leaves affordable fresh food ‘desert' in Greater Boston neighborhoods

Boston Globe

10-05-2025

Daily Table's Board of Directors said the closure was 'heartbreaking' and 'not an easy decision' in a letter to customers on Friday. 'We are proud to have served over 3 million customers, returning over $16 million in savings to the community while removing the barriers to healthy food.'
The grocery chain cited a number of reasons for its closure, including challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, 'historically high levels of food price increases' and a lack of sufficient funding to stay afloat.
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Leonard Lee was in line to pay for his food items at The Daily Table. He said "everybody depends on this in the neighborhood." The nonprofit is closing the store in the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester.
Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
Jonathan Berk, resident of downtown Salem, said the closure will be tough to bear considering the
'Everything seems like its continuing to rise everyday. For folks that are living on tight budgets, not being able to stretch their grocery dollars every week is just gonna cut down on how much food they're able to provide for their families,' Berk said. 'It's gonna have a major impact on folks' ability to just put food on their table.'
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Berk said Daily Table's closure is also a great loss for members of the downtown Salem community as there are no other options for fresh produce within walking distance.
'This store served a much larger purpose than just lower costs, it also served a fresh food desert out here,' Berk said. '[Daily Table] was really the only place in downtown or near downtown where you could get fresh bananas or fresh fruits and veggies for that day.'
V. Saragoni, a resident of Salem, shared similar worries.
'I think about many friends and neighbors who may or may not drive or have access to a car,' Saragoni said. 'Many folks will have to ride share to the grocery store which will only add further financial strain to those shopping.'
Teddy Beamer, a former resident of Cambridge, said he shopped at Daily Table's Central Square location a handful of times as a college student on a budget.
'The only other options for groceries in my neighborhood were H Mart and Whole Foods, which are more expensive. And Target, which can be cheaper but has a limited selection of produce,' Beamer said.
Folahan Shoeipo was trying to raise money for Daily Table employees who are going to lose their jobs because the nonprofit is closing in Cambridge.
Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
Along with the combination of affordability and quality, Beamer said no other store in his neighborhood had the same genuine sense of community.
'I think that there should be more programs that bring healthy and affordable food to people that need it,' Beamer said. 'It's a shame that [Daily Table] is closing, it had a really 'strong community feeling to it.'
Daily Table's four locations will be selling their remaining inventory over the next several days and all items will be deeply discounted until operations close.
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Sabrina Lam can be reached at