This is a a disaster for the community. Johnnies provided exactly what an urban community needs, easy access to critical supplies for all. Now we have a vacuum and those who purport to represent the community have done absolutely nothing to anticipate this problem, except talk.

To leave so many people stranded who are dependant on public transportation as well as disabled-specific, public transportation is a sin. Johnnies Foodmaster has shown contempt for their loyal patrons, lets hope our elected officials don't do the same thing. Arrange for shuttle service and arrrange for it NOW!

Yes there should be something for the residents who are elderly and those who do no drive of which there are many. It is sad that an entire town has to wait a year for this new store to open

You would think that Market Basket and Stop and Shop would be fighting over shuttle rights. It is an opportunity to get folks in town used to shopping at their better-quality, better-priced stores. With Johnny's closing, there is a great opportunity for someone to open a butcher shop/deli on Main Street. Won't be me, but seems like a great opportunity to get a head start on Whole Foods.

It would be a great business decision for stop & shop to waive or decrease delivery charges on its peapod service to ctown residents during the months that we will have no supermarket. The volume of deliveries in ctown would be quite high if more people used this as an option and it's pretty convenient to have groceries delivered straight to your door. After 1st 60 days of peapod service the delivery charge normally increases to $6.95/order.

Fortunately we live in Boston which means that everyone has easy access to everything. Almost every grocery store has some sort of home delivery set up, which is a great option for those who feel disenfranchised by the closing of Johnnies. If people put as much effort into finding a grocery store as they did with complaining, there would be no issue.

If I had an elderly friend or relative, it would be my responsibility to ensure that they get what they need, not the City of Boston's responsibility.

What is the real story behind Whole Foods not opening until the fall of 2013. You could tear down the building and rebuild ii in less time! Something smells rotten in Denmark.

A lot of elderly can't afford the service fee's for pea pod. When you're on a limited income those fee's add up. I see nothing wrong with members of the community standing up for and helping one another. Especially those who may not have family close by to help. Afterall, that's what makes a community a community. It's easy to say there are other options for these folks when you are not in their situation.

I'm sorry, why is it the responsibility of the public to provide transportation to local supermarkets? Having a supermarket within a 5 minute walk from your home is a privilege, not a right. It's absolutely amazing to me the number of people on here expecting hand outs.

@Seamus - thank you. Agreed.

Why won't the CNC use the mitigation funds to establish a transportation service? These funds are supposed to be used directly to help the residents of Charlestown, correct? I would think this transportation service is EXACTLY the type of non-profit that would benefit for these funds.

How about CNC? Any good reasons why you shouldn't use these funds to provide this service for the elderly? What don't I know about having access to these monies? It's your call as to who receives these funds, correct?

Or, how about the CNC work out an agreement with PeaPod that the delivery charges will be bill to the mitigation fund? Seems feasible, does it not?

Or, how about the CNC provide more funding for the Boys & Girls Club so that the B&G vans can be used as a transportation service? Seems feasible, does it not?

The mitigation fund has a couple hundred thousand remaining to be issued to our community. I think everyone looking for a transportation option would look to the CNC and the mitigation fund to provide this service.

@TheMaskedTruthsayer - your assumptions of my upbringing are far from accurate. I have worked for everything I have in life. Furthermore, I have not attacked anyone personally on here. I am not a prick, I am a very caring and I have lots of friends, but thanks.

It's okay. Townies will take care of it .. Matter of fact, some Townies already have!

Seamus, if you're going to live here, you need to realize something: we take care of each other.

Sean, that's great. That's how it should work. People helping other people - not expecting handouts from public funds to pay for private services.

How sympathetic would the Patch crowd be if a supermarket closed in Roxbury and those residents DEMANDED free rides to do their shopping ? Words like ''entitlements'' and ''handouts'' come to mind. I didn't know the plight of the elderly was this bad in C-Town, how they live in squalor, can't afford anything over $2, and have no family or friends to help with anything ?

I know that there have been conversations amongst the parishioners at St. Mary's to make sure that there's support in place in terms of offering rides to the stores - especially for the senior citizens.

Short of anything formally organized for transportaiton, I hope everyone reaches out and offers to help. Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner.

I love the idea of the stores providing a pickup service. Why not a schedule such as Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. the bus makes a couple of stops in C'town and goes to Market Basket, Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. the bus makes a couple of stop in C'Town and goes to Stop n Shop. Or a different schedule, but the stores would pay for it, not the citizens of C'town who need the bus or the city of Boston.

If the stores were smart one of them would organize some transport....or maybe the issue is liability if someone is injured en route

Just to add some perspective, when the Stop and Shop in Beacon Hill was replaced by Whole Foods, Johnnie's provided free shuttles to the elderly in the West End and the North End to their Charlestown location so they could go grocery shopping. Charlestown has 5 large complexes that house seniors that need a local option. Taking several buses or trains to get to the grocery store is not an option for them.

Maybe Elizabeth warren or Scott Brown could help.......oh wait ....they just spent 70- something million dollars campaigning to get in a position to help ......so they're wallets are probably a little tighter now ......

Round 2 ; The haves VS The have nots

Thank goodness I have a lifetime supply of spam in the basement .......Lol !!!!

The conversation on the topic of a neighborhood grocery and those divisive comments slung by people who have only recently resided here is indicative of the problem. Some newcomers, who are so prolific in their condescending comments, seem so quick to judge and demean the people that have made this the great community that we all have enjoyed up until recently. I have only lived here for 30 years but I do love the network of people who lend a hand and a compassionate ear. The new commenters create such negative energy as they sling their "pearls" of wisdom. Let me assure you, no one cares what you think; if you aren't a part of the solution, then you are part of the problem.

Go get Em Erin !!!!!
I grew up in south Medford off Mystic ave .....moved here 3 years back .....Italian side from the north end .....Irish side from Somerville and Cambridge
All working class immigrants ......family ran a foster home for 14 years ......I watched my mother care for children of the state as if they were her own and they became my family too.
We were always a slap away from the projects ourselves.....my folks were life long renters .....father worked for the housing authority advocating for the homeless.
I know a bit about the smaller piece of the pie.
Someone said to me. "well this is capitalism"
To that I say ; "No, this is a community"