This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Business & Tech

Hispanic Community Saddened by Hi-Lo's Closing / Cierre de Hi-Lo Foods Conmueve a la Comunidad Hispana

"Where are we going to shop now? The bodegas? It's a big mistake," said one customer. / "Dónde vamos a ir a comprar ahora, las bodegas? Es un gran error," dijo una compradora.

The news yesterday that has sent a shudder through the Hispanic community.

On Saturday, a steady stream of customers still shopped at the , which after a nearly a half-century of operation is scheduled to close its doors in the next few weeks.  Though shoppers were of diverse backgrounds, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Colombians, Dominicans, Anglos, and others, were nearly unanimous in their opinion that its loss will be deeply felt both in Jamaica Plain and beyond. 

Signs announcing discounts of 10 percent offered small consolation.  Their sadness was expressed in Spanish, English, and Spanglish:

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

 “It’s very distressing,” said longtime customer Albinia, who shopped with her two children and declined to give her last name.  “There’s very little time left.”

 “I have been coming here for 22 years,” said Jocelyn Baez.  “They have everything for los hispanos.”

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

 “The quality is very good,” said Jacqueline Battista.  "Where are we going to shop now?  The bodegas?  It's a big mistake."

Vicente Colon concurred.  “I’d like to start a petition to save it.”

"I have been coming here for 25 years," said Altagracia, who gave only her first name.  "It will be missed a lot."

“Everyone comes to Hi-Lo,” remarked Brailu Mariac.  “Blacks, whites, Latinos.  They have food from every country in Latin America  . . . Argentina, Peru, Puerto Rico.  It’s an emblematic store.  I saw the employees in tears when they learned that it would close.”

Dorchester resident Rosa Ortiz, a Hi-Lo employee for 15 years, spent her day off shopping with her daughter, Lucelly Lozano.

“They gave us three weeks notice and no explanation,” she stated.  “Nada! It’s going to be hard to find another job.”

José Peña, an employee at Hi-Lo for five months, gathered shopping carts in the frigid air outside the store.

“I cancelled my cable, internet, and phone,” he said.  “I don’t know how I’m going to pay the barber,” he joked as he stroked his freshly-cut hair.

Jimmy Batuyios, one of the few Anglo customers spotted, commented that he grew up near Hi-Lo, and has been coming ever since.

“My dad worked here,” he remarked.  “It might be good for the property values but it’s a turning point for the neighborhood.”

The store's manager told the JP Gazette that a Whole Foods Market would move into the space.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

La noticia que el legendario Hi-Lo dejará de existir ha conmovido a la comunidad hispana.

Sábado, mucha gente hacía sus compras en el supermercado de la Centre, el cual después de casi medio siglo de existencia va a cerrar sus puertas en las próximas semanas. Colombianos, puertorriqueños, cubanos, dominicanos, anglos, y compradores provenientes de otros orígenes expresaban casi unanimidad de que la pérdida de este mercado se sentirá fuertemente en Jamaica Plain y en otras partes.

Carteles de descuentos de 10 por ciento ofrecen escaso consuelo. Tristeza resuena en español, inglés y espanglish.

“Causa desesperación” expresó Albina, quien hacía compras con sus pequeños niños, “y queda poquito tiempo.”

“Me he aprovisionado aquí durante 22 años” dijo  Jocelyn Baez. “Tienen todo lo que usamos los hispanos.”

“La calidad es insuperable” dijo Jacqueline Battista, “Dónde vamos a ir a comprar ahora, las bodegas? Es un gran error.”

Vicente Colon expresó “Me gustaría comenzar una petición pública para salvar este mercado.”

"He comprado aquí por 25 años” dijo Altagracia,  "Y lo voy a extrañar mucho.”

“Todo el mundo viene a Hi-Lo,” dijo Brailu Mariac.  “Negros, blancos, latinos. Hay comida de cada país de Latinoamérica.  Argentina, Perú, Puerto Rico. Vi a los empleados llorar cuando se enteraron del cierre."

Rosa Ortiz de Dorchester, empleada de Hi-Lo por 15 años, pasó su día de descanso haciendo compras con su hija Lucelly Lozano. “Nos dijeron que nos quedan 3 semanas de trabajo sin ninguna explicación  ¡Nada! Va a ser difícil encontrar otro empleo.”

José Peña, empleado por 5 meses, recogía los carros de compra en el frío de afuera. “Cancelé cable, Internet y teléfono. No sé cómo pagaré el peluquero” bromeó acariciando su cabello recién cortado.

Jimmy Batuyios, uno de los pocos anglos en vista, dijo que creció cerca de Hi-Lo y que ha sido cliente toda su vida.

“Mi padre trabajaba aquí. El cierre quizás sea bueno para los valores de las propiedades, pero va a cambiar al vecindario profundamente.”

Traducción por Wagner Ríos

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Jamaica Plain