I mentioned on the post for America's Food Basket that Lawrence has a number of independent grocers, mostly small corner stores catering to Latin and Caribbean shoppers, so let's take a look at them before The Market Report leaves the area. Plus, we'll see a store just outside of Lawrence. Here we go!
I wasn't able to find too much on the history of this building, but going by Google Maps, before El Rubio it was Amable Supermarket, and Union Supermarket before that. Like V&V, this is a corner store with basic groceries, meat, and produce, plus hot food and a deli.
...for a quick look at the Pleasant Valley Superette, a small grocer dating back to the 1950s or so but under its current ownership for about 25 years. These days, it's mostly a convenience and liquor store, but you can see a historical picture and read more about the background here. This brings us to the end of the Lawrence/Haverhill area. Enjoy the weekend, and I'll see you Monday with the last group of stores in Massachusetts!
Lawrence
V&V Market & Restaurant
Opened: 2015
Opened: 2015
Owner: Victor Villacis
Previous Tenants: car dealer > car rental agency
Cooperative: none
Location: 273a S Union St, Lawrence, MA
I've seen grocery stores in buildings previously occupied by lots of different businesses, but here's a somewhat unusual one -- a former car dealership, later car rental agency, that's now the V&V Market & Restaurant. That certainly explains the unusually large parking lot for this store of just 3000 square feet. V&V has been here since 2015, and is a small corner store with a butcher, deli, hot food, and general grocery.
El Rubio Supermarket & Restaurant
Opened: 2020
Owner: unknown
Previous Tenants: Union Supermarket > Amable Supermarket
Cooperative: unknown
Location: 241 S Union St, Lawrence, MA
Photographed: May 15, 2023
Special thanks to my partner for taking these Lawrence pictures out the car window while I was driving!
Tropical Supermarket & Restaurant
Opened: ca. 2014
Owner: unknown
Previous Tenants: South Union Meat Market
Cooperative: unknown
Location: 127 S Union St, Lawrence, MA
Photographed: May 15, 2023
One more similar store here in Lawrence, the Tropical Supermarket & Restaurant. Until about 2014, it was the South Union Meat Market. All three of these stores are on the south side of Lawrence, south of where the Merrimack River cuts through the city. Again, Tropical has a selection of grocery, meat, and produce, plus hot foods and sandwiches. Now moving outside of the city of Lawrence...
Pleasant Valley Superette
Opened: 2001 under current ownership; ca. 1950s previously
Owner: Madhuben Patel
Previous Tenants: unknown
Cooperative: unknown
Location: 298 Merrimack St, Methuen, MA
Photographed: July 4, 2024
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