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East Boston loses battle with the King
By adamg on Mon, 04/13/2009 - 8:47am
The Globe surveys the mood in Maverick Square, where some people have to resign themselves to the fact that it's still the sort of place where a Burger King would move in, rather than being a North End in the making, while other people think flame broiling is just fine for the "neighborhood neighborhood."
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Comments
Couldn't Help Commenting On That Article
People were alarmed that a BK might bring in unsavory characters, loiterers and litterbugs - I'm going to guess that these people aren't really familiar with the current state of East Boston.
Main Streets organization loses its way?
The purpose of Main Streets organizations is to promote LOCAL businesses. I don't understand why East Boston Main Streets would favor a Burger King, which would compete with and damage local businesses.
Thats my understanding of
Thats my understanding of the Main Streets system as well, my question is what were the other options? The story did not mention who else wanted that space, or if there even was someone else willing to spend the money for it. I really do understand the concerns of the 22 and 23 year old hipsters who want community centers and upscale bars but the problem is someone has to pay for all that.
One Maverick is the blight
One Maverick is the blight of blights in Maverick Station. ANYTHING is better than what they have there now. BK won't attract any more loiterers than area already looming around the station; it might just relocate them to the newer, shinier place for a while until they turn that into a craphole as well.
I'm not exactly sure what the local busybodies and bureaucrats envisioning Maverick to be, but they might want to actually take a walk around the area to see what exists there now and who the clientele are. Joe the plumber and Jose the dishwasher most certainly have no use for a "high-end restaurant" (I would LOVE to see what restaurants were "cited").
Piers Park is not as close to Maverick Station as the article suggests. It's on Webster Ave. on Jeffries Point about 5-10 minute walk down the street near Webster -- my guess is that the majority of those people (who are most likely against the BK) rarely even take the T or hang around Maverick and are not your typical East Boston residents. These are the same people who freaked out when 303 Cafe on Sumner wanted to serve beer and wine *gasp*. But hey, if you want to begin the gentrification, I guess it's ok with me.
Did Burger King do market research?
Whenever I'm in Maverick Square, it strikes me as a largely Latino neighborhood -- with people much more likely to eat at Pollo Campero than at Burger King.
It's possible
There's a McDonald's up the street in Central Square, and they seem to always have a big crowd.
Sweeping Generalizations Much?
Gee, why all the burrito places are opening in white people areas then? No hispanics there.
Latino people eat McDonalds
Latino people eat McDonalds and Burger King in addition to the Pollos of the world. Id venture to guess that the Burger King will do great business.
There's a half-dozen Latino
There's a half-dozen Latino eateries in Maverick Square alone. I think the market is pretty saturated.
People don't seem to have a problem with the other big scary corporation, Dunkin' Donuts, two doors down from where the BK will be, but I personally have an issue with the terrible "local business" Chinese place next door to it. At least they're attempting to renovate the filthy-looking facade though.
Dirty East Boston
That's all East Boston needs right now is another fast food restaurant for the litter bugs to throw more trash in the streets as they do now. The City sweeps the streets 2-3 times a weeks and after less than 1 hour it's filthy again. Wake up people ..Take Pride in Your Neighborhood and show an example to your kids.