An unexpected change in the neighborhood



 Ashmont Market and Liquor Store, a short five-minute (if that) walk from my house, is being sold. I first learned of this from my husband, who saw one of the Georgeoulopoulos brothers showing the ropes to a non-family guy – [presumably the new owner).


 


Whine.  I like it just the way it is.


 


After returning from my Christmas vacation, I ran up there for something (they have a little bit of everything and always have what you’ve run out of to cook some new concoction) and asked one of the brothers if the rumors was true.


 


He said, “Yes.”  (man of few words)


I said, “Ohhhhh.  I’m gonna miss you.”


He said, “ Yeah” or something like that.


I said, “It won’t be the same.”


He didn’t say anything just had a brief look of something like sympathy for my feelings cross his face.


I hope the new owners keep it like you run it.”


They seem nice,” he offered.


 


I fear the change in ownership.


The Georgoulopoulos family have been dependable, stalwart, friendly if not effusive (at least not to be but then I’m a newcomer to the neighborhood only having lived here for 8 years.)


 
I first noticed the store while waiting at the bus stop in front of another small neighborhood store.  There were always   cops stopping  by for the deli sandwiches in the back of the store.  I went back to investigate and discovered they also sold meat.  This was where I discovered some of the juiciest pork chops I’ve ever seen.  I hadn’t cooked pork chops in more than 10 years until I was tempted by the looks of theirs and bought two for dinner.


 


Ashmont Market and Liquors  been a neighborhood fixture for 30 years.  They gave the facade and signage  of the store a much-needed and attractive facelift a couple years back. Brothers Harry, John, and Peter Georgoulopoulos run it. (Two of them are twins but I don’t know which two.)  I believe they inherited from the father who passed a year or so ago. 


Observation:   I sometimes loathe change.  (Who me?  Yes, me!)


Realization: I am assuming that the change in ownership would be a change for the worse; it could be a change for the better.


Decision:  I’ll be optimistic.  I mean it would only be in the new owner’s best interest to keep/maintain what has made the store work for the neighborhood.



Right?


Here’s hoping. 


 


About Candelaria Silva

Candelaria Silva-Collins is a marketing, community outreach and programming consultant; writer; and trainer/facilitator who lives in Boston, Massachusetts. She has designed and facilitated workshops on a wide variety of topics including communication, facilitation, job search skills, team building, and parenting issues. She currently coordinates the Community Membership Program of the Huntington Theatre Company. Her work as Director of ACT Roxbury was profiled in several publications, including The Creative Communities Builders Handbook. Candelaria’s children’s stories, short stories, essays and reviews have been published in local and national publications and she is an active blogger. Her publications include the booklets, Handling Rejection; Pushing through Shyness: Networking Tips when You’re Shy, Slow to Warm Up or Just don’t Feel you Belong; and Real Questions about Sex & Relationships for Teens: A Discussion Guide for Parents. She has served on the boards of Goddard College, Wheelock Family Theatre, Boston Foundation for Architecture, and Discover Roxbury. She is currently Chair, Designators of the Henderson Foundation.

Leave a Reply