Mayor Walsh Visits Foodie’s Urban Market

By Beth Treffeisen

As part of the 2017 Mayor on Main, Mayor Martin Walsh took to the trolleys to deliver the Boston Main Streets Honorees.

Differing from year’s past, when one awards ceremony would be held, the Mayor decided to change it up and bring it out to the communities by having a three day tour, with four stops each day, out in the Main Street Districts in the neighborhoods.

“It’s exciting,” said Mayor Walsh. “It’s important to have the small businesses in the communities.”

This past Wednesday, June 28, Mayor Walsh made a stop at the Washington Gateway Main Street district in the South End, to honor Foodie’s Urban Market and volunteer of the year Randi Lathrop.

Lathrop is the founding Board Chair of Washington Gateway Main Streets and has been an invaluable volunteer and leader since WGMS’s inception, putting in countless hours to make the neighborhood a better place.

As the current Vice President of the Board, Randi does it all; from business assistance to fundraising to promotions and more.

“It’s hard to start,” said Mayor Walsh. “We’re trying to promote our small business. These businesses were here beforehand and they can be here long after that and that’s why it is important to support the local businesses.”

For nearly 20 years Foodie’s Urban Market has been serving and supporting the South End community. A full service, independent, family owned and operated grocery store, Foodie’s has always been in support of WGMS and the entire neighborhood.

Foodie’s is known not just for the prepared foods and butcher counter, but also for hiring locally, championing it as an example of what it means to be a small business leader.

Mayor Walsh said, “There’s nothing wrong with Whole Foods and the big guys but I want to try as hard as possible to support these shops because these shops where here before anyone wanted to move in.”

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