‘A win-win for the community': Vicente's Supermarket, a Brockton-based grocery store, to replace Warren St. Walgreens in Roxbury
closed the location in January 2024,
prompting pushback from residents and elected officials who said the closure would threaten residents' access to over-the-counter medications, life-saving prescription, and pharmacists advice.
Segun Idowu, the city's chief of economic opportunity and inclusion, said the Vicente's owners are exploring a pharmacy model inside the property.
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'I expressed to them the desire of the community that there needs to at least be a pharmacy element in there, and they said, 'If that's what the community wants, we will find a way to make it work,'' Idowu said.
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He added, 'It's a win-win for the community: fresh food and access to needed medication.'
It is not clear when the store would open, but JP Plunkett, principal for Dorchester-based Red Dome Realty, said 'it shouldn't be too far out.'
'It's going to be wonderful for the Roxbury community, given the dearth of grocery options there,' he said. 'The neighbors are going to be super excited about this.'
As of Tuesday afternoon, 416 Warren St. was included among the supermarket's locations on
Plunkett did not confirm if the forthcoming tenant would include a pharmacy component. However, Vicente's Supermarket has pursued health-focused endeavors in the past, though none related to pharmaceuticals.
In 2015, the local chain partnered with the
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While Red Dome Realty did not confirm how long Vicente's has committed to staying at Warren Street, Plunkett said the store signed a long-term lease, meaning it is 'making a strong commitment to that neighborhood.'
Founded in 1994 by Manuel Vicente, Vicente's Supermarket specializes 'in a delightful array of Brazilian products,'
Vicente's Supermarket could introduce a fresh food option in an area with limited options. A Price Rite supermarket is a 4-minute walk away, and a handful of convenience stores are peppered in the area. A Popeyes and McDonald's are also in close proximity.
The space is owned by Four16 Warren Street Limited LP, and is valued at roughly $4.5 million, according to
When Walgreens announced its Warren Street location in late 2023, it sparked public outrage from elected leaders, clergy, and neighborhood residents alike. Dozens of dissatisfied residents picketed at the drugstore, Boston City Council convened a hearing to assess the closure on the surrounding community, and members of the US Capitol penned letters to the drugstore giant demanding accountability.
Many charged Walgreens with contributing to local '
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The neighborhood surrounding the Warren Street store is nearly half Black, and one-third Hispanic, according to census data. Residents age 65 and over make up 15 percent of the population. Almost a third of families live below the poverty line.
At least 47 pharmacies closed across Massachusetts in 2024 — the most since 2018, according to a Globe analysis of drugstore registration data. The data also shows that at least two pharmacies have closed since the start of the year, although some announced closures, such as a Walgreens store in
This story was produced by the Globe's
team, which covers the racial wealth gap in Greater Boston. You can sign up for the newsletter
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Tiana Woodard can be reached at
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