This non-profit grocery store chain in Boston is closing abruptly
After a decade of serving low-income communities across Greater Boston with deeply discounted, nutritious groceries, Daily Table is closing up shop.
The nonprofit grocer, founded in 2012 by former Trader Joe's president Doug Rauch, announced Friday that it will shutter all four locations within days, citing unsustainable financial pressure. 'Without immediate funding to bridge us through 2025, we cannot continue,' the organization said in a public letter. 'After careful consideration, we have come to the heartbreaking conclusion that we can no longer continue operations.
Daily Table offered a unique model: surplus and donated food from suppliers, combined with philanthropic support, allowed the stores to sell items at prices often 30-percent lower than the market rate. Customers could purchase fresh produce, staples and prepared meals using SNAP, all while shopping in a dignified, full-service environment. Since opening its first store in Dorchester in 2015, the chain has served more than 3 million people and returned over $16 million in savings to the community.
Why is the Daily Table closing?
A combination of COVID-era challenges, a sharp rise in food prices and a loss of USDA funding last year through the Double Up Food Bucks program proved too much to weather. Daily Table CEO Sasha Purpura told Boston.com the chain's commitment to retaining staff and absorbing costs—even as operating expenses skyrocketed—took a toll. 'We have been trying to get through this challenging time, but in the end, we do not have the money,' she said.
Stores in Dorchester, Roxbury and Salem closed Sunday, with the Cambridge location expected to follow shortly. All stores are currently liquidating inventory at steep discounts.
Daily Table's leadership emphasized that while the nonprofit's current iteration is ending, its underlying mission isn't. In their letter, they noted that they 'remain as committed to the mission of Daily Table as ever' and believe 'this model can be replicated elsewhere.'
Whether others will step in to fill the gap remains to be seen—but after 10 years, three million customers, and millions in community savings, Daily Table's impact won't disappear overnight.
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During the Covid-19 lockdowns Michelle initially opened a farm shop selling home-reared meat and pastries which then evolved into a restaurant (Image: Paternoster Farm ) According to Michelle the family had "no doubt" the tenancy would be for a decade but when they asked Pembrokeshire County Council about the likelihood of renewing their tenancy after the first 10 years the council hoped there would be no issue. In an email exchange between Michelle and an asset manager for the council in April of last year, seen by WalesOnline, Michelle was told that there was a "lot of support" within the authority for the county farms and that they hoped that "any decision on a renewal would be favourable". 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Michelle has said she feels 'mentally exhausted' and uncertain about the future following the news (Image: Paternoster Farm ) "We're obviously looking at alternative sites for restaurants and cafes because we'd be daft to just tread along fighting this but not have a Plan B. "I'm worried about money. The cost of having to move is going to be enormous. "It's a terrible time for restaurants as it is but the cost of moving a restaurant and establishing somewhere else, as well as the cost of being closed for that time, will be huge." But the recent news has also had an impact on Michelle's children and especially her 14-year-old daughter who has a passion for farming. "When she first found out she took it upon herself to write a letter to the farm's manager," Michelle said. "We didn't know – I didn't know about it until afterwards. "She hopped off the school bus in the village, got some stamps, and posted the letter. They didn't reply to her. 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Michelle and her husband Leum have launched a petition calling for a full and thorough review of a policy (Image: Paternoster Farm ) Following the news that their lease renewal was denied Michelle and her husband Leum have launched an online petition calling on Pembrokeshire County Council to conduct a full and thorough review of its County Farm Policy. Previously the county council said their proposals at Paternoster Farm were in line with the policy offering the tenancy to new tenants and providing "those who wish to farm a way of entering into the industry". But the petition argues that the policy is "not fit for purpose" as it does not support "farm diversification nor integration into the community". It continues: "If County Farm Policy does not support and encourage our type of farming enterprise, one which farms the holding to its fullest whilst caring for the land, farms regeneratively, provides employment, fosters community links, supports a wealth of local businesses, supports local schools, feeds farm produce to the community every single week of the year, then it cannot possibly be said to be fit for purpose." It later adds: "County Farm Policy lists its objective as facilitating entry into farming, and moving tenants up to larger farms, but to what end? "Has the authority actually considered who it aims to benefit, and why do they not seek to measure the success, or otherwise, of the policy? "It is all very well to seek to help new entrants into farming, but what are the authority really trying to achieve? Farming for farming's sake is not enough. The authority has to ask, who will benefit, and to what extent?" So far the petition has received more than 500 signatures. In response the county council has said the petition will be "fully considered" with the policy said to be due for a renewal next year. "The amount of support we've received is unbelievable," Michelle said. "I didn't expect it. I thought some people would be angry but everyone was really supportive." She added: "And that support continues with people signing the petition. Within less than two hours we got the 500 signatures that we needed to enable it to be heard by the full council. "I think the restaurant has eclipsed the farm and that's why there's been a bit of a pushback from people." Although no official closing date has been set Paternoster Farm is expected to remain open into the autumn with bookings made available through the restaurant's Instagram page and via For now Michelle and her family remain hopeful that they will get answers. "We've been here nine years," she said. "It's our home, it's our children's home. This place means a lot to us because we've made a huge success at the restaurant. "But at the same time had we known in advance that we'd need to move we'd have made quite different business decisions. "I'm not an unreasonable person. We could have made plans to move and I think, although it would have been difficult, we would have been okay with that as we would've kept other options open. "My issue is the way they've treated us – that's what it comes down to. "The fact that in November, when we spoke about renewal, they went away to do their report and made the decision and then came back in February and only had until March to give us notice if they were going to renew or not. "So it was right down to the last minute. And the way that letter was so unceremonious with one paragraph and no explanation." In response a Pembrokeshire County Council spokesman said: "Renewing the lease on a long-term basis would be contrary to the existing County Farm Policy which is designed to provide opportunity and movement up through the different-sized tenanted farms. Hundreds of people have signed the petition (Image: Paternoster Farm ) "In April last year we hoped to be able to offer and provide a tenancy in one of our larger farms in accordance with our policy; unfortunately, the language used in correspondence with our tenant did not make that clear and may have given the impression that a renewal of the current tenancy at Paternoster would be possible. "As part of our approach the E-petition will be fully considered in accordance with our petitions policy. "That will include a debate at council should there be sufficient valid signatures on the petition. The County Farm Policy is due for renewal next year and will therefore be reviewed in the near future; the petition contents will also be considered as part of this review. "The council supports and commends the contribution and success of the Paternoster Farm restaurant. "However extending the tenancy to facilitate the restaurant on a long-term basis would contravene the existing County Farm Policy; this aspect will be further reviewed along with the policy. "Any relevant information will be released to our tenant in accordance with our data control policies, freedom of information requests, and subject access requests as appropriate." Article continues below
