Johnnie's Foodmaster
| File:FoodmasterLogo.jpg | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail grocery store |
| Founded | East Cambridge, Massachusetts 1947 |
| Defunct | November 18, 2012 |
| Headquarters | Chelsea, Massachusetts |
Key people | John A. DeJesus, president |
| Website | foodmasterinc |
Johnnie's Foodmaster, often referred to simply as Foodmaster, was a chain of supermarkets operating within the Greater Boston region. Headquartered in Chelsea, Massachusetts, all its outlets were situated exclusively within the state. On November 18, 2012, the entire network of ten stores ceased operations. Of these, six leases were acquired by Whole Foods Market, headquartered in Austin, Texas, and two went to Stop & Shop based in Quincy, Massachusetts. The disposition of the remaining sites was uncertain at the time of shutdown.
Operation
Foodmaster functioned in a highly competitive grocery sector alongside rivals such as Shaw's, Stop & Shop, and DeMoulas Market Basket. Its supermarkets were commonly found within shopping plazas hosting various retailers. A distinctive feature of Foodmaster was its dress code policy; cashiers and clerks in service and grocery departments wore black aprons paired with white collared shirts and black bow ties. Additionally, early operations included a conveyor belt or roller system to move customers’ purchases. Groceries were packed into baskets resembling those used by the Postal Service and delivered through a front hatch directly to customers’ vehicles with assistance from staff.
History
The inaugural store was launched by John DeJesus Sr. in 1947 in East Cambridge, Massachusetts. At the time of closure, leadership had passed to his son, John DeJesus. The chain reached a maximum of eleven stores simultaneously. Between 2000 and 2004, a Swampscott location operated before converting into a Whole Foods Market after its closure. Facing intensifying market competition, Johnnie's sought methods to better serve its customer base. In 2010, the Revere outlet was transformed into a Save-A-Lot franchise under license from SuperValu (United States). Management planned to assess customer patterns across other locations to identify additional stores suitable for similar conversions. However, due to economic challenges and rivalry from nearby Stop & Shop, PriceRite, and DeMoulas Market Basket stores, the Revere Save-A-Lot closed on February 12, 2012.
Closure
In late August 2012, it was revealed that Whole Foods Market, headquartered in Austin, Texas, was initiating discussions to acquire the leases of six out of the ten Johnnie's stores, aiming to strengthen its foothold in the area. The status of the other four stores was not made public at that time. On October 26, 2012, Johnnie's confirmed the completion of its lease sale agreement for the Arlington, Brookline, Charlestown, Melrose, South Weymouth, and Beacon Street Somerville branches. Shortly after, an announcement followed indicating that the remaining stores located in Medford, Lynn, Whitman, and Somerville (Alewife Brook Parkway) would also cease operations; notably, the Medford site was slated to become a Stop & Shop. Liquidation sales across all locations were managed by Hilco Merchant Resources, a firm based in Illinois. In February 2013, Stop & Shop purchased the lease for the Somerville Alewife Brook Parkway store.
Former locations
- Arlington – 808 Massachusetts Avenue
- Brookline (Johnnie's Fresh Market) – 1026-1028 Beacon Street
- Charlestown – Bunker Hill Mall
- Lynn – 50 Boston Street
- Medford – 471 Salem Street
- Melrose – 880 Main Street
- Revere – 651 Squire Road
- Somerville (Alewife) – 105 Alewife Brook Parkway
- Somerville (Beacon Street) – 45 Beacon Street
- South Weymouth – 35 Pleasant Street
- Swampscott – 331 Paradise Road
- Whitman – 688 Bedford Street
- West Medford – 491 High Street