I miss video stores in general. I would always make new discoveries and often run into people I knew.

Ah yes.

No idea what you're talking about. I'm not a tech worker from SF and I give money to the homeless if they ask. Doesn't change the fact around the winter situation with them gets particularly dire.

I've been in the area forever and am actively looking at rural areas now that I work 100% remote. I love the city, but we would never be able to own property here.

I heard something about a change in MA law that basically prohibited the work model that co-ops relied on (member working for discounts). Do you know if there's any truth to that? It could explain why Boston/Cambridge no longer has any food co-ops.

Going back, the original Harvest Co-op losing its space (now H-Mart) and moving across the street (now Yamba) to become a shadow of its former self was a blow. It's hard to convey what a hub that place was, not to mention an awesome store.

Other hubs were Rodneys Books, Hollywood Express (now Life Alive). Probably more but I'm forgetting now.

The nature of the city is dynamic change, but yes, we're losing what made/makes Central great. I feel like the designation of cultural district was capturing the end of an era here in a way. Green Street Studios, the EMF music rehersal/arts space, Out of the Blue Gallery. All gone now. The Middle East is soon to follow. I know there's a lot going on with Starlight Square and other initiatives, but it really seems like the influx of banks and high rent storefronts are killing what made this place so great.

i will say as a recent grad in the area ‘slumerville’ as a nickname is still alive and well, at least in the high schools

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retiring

no they didn't

Noooo! Are they retiring or lack of business recovery?

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As a recent transplant that moved to the Davis area, what did it used to be like? My impression so far of the area has been super positive and outside of the Chipotle and Starbucks I haven’t noticed many chains.

The Starbucks closed cause a junkie stabbed an employee with a needle

One employee got stabbed with a needle by a junkie

Edit: Downvote if you want. It won’t make it any less true. A city councilor’s aid told me

More like nimbys that cause this homelessness by not allowing any housing to be built. That's the real issue, not people moving to Boston and just want to live lmao.

Businesses do indeed come and go, but the increased rents and increased “wildness” of the streets in Central since COVID surely pushes longtime businesses to consider shutting their doors. In at least one, and likely another case, the union issue played a role. That will continue to hamper small businesses as worker shortages continue and folks aren’t afraid to challenge ownership. It’s just the reality of the situation, even if we’re all pro union in general

It’s not a bad theory

They’re worse, I’ve been around the area a long time

The whining about panhandling makes it clear what's happening. The tech people from SF have brought their awful values here with them. Thanks a lot. Nothing has changed other than that and rents.

That’s not new though. I’m not convinced that things have gotten worse.

An amazing church called Central Square Church opened this past year. Located at 5 Magazine in a beautiful church. Led by Larry Kim this church is growing and is an asset to CS.

I remember when Woolworths closed I thought it was all over. Then when my mom stopped working at the food co-op. Then when skippy whites left. When you spend time in a dynamic city, things change. It’s not different from the last 400 years.

I was on the Board of Directors for Harvest Co-op ~2010. By 2012, the owner of that row of building raided rents almost 50%. It was ridiculous. They couldn’t afford to keep the lease. I also know Prana Power yoga has the same issue. Starbucks is in that same row. So sad that it’s now happening on the other side of the street!

Lol, I grew up down the street from Central Square and I remember when Out of the Blue was Blockbuster. Rip DVD's