What a victory for small business!
The Zoning Board of Appeals have ruled in what can only be called a tremendous upset! Dipti and Umesh Mistri have won approval to move their specialty market, Little India, to a new location.
This was a battle of biblical proportion - one to tell the grandkids! The Mistris have operated Little India here in Somerville since 1985. They have always dreamed of expanding. However, they were nearly stopped in their tracks.
In another instance of big business trying to crush the little man, the proposed move of Little India to a bigger space just diagonal from its current Bow Street home, was challenged by its much bigger neighbor - Market Basket.
The Mistris were shocked! (Weren't we all.) Market Basket - afraid of Little India? The new location is right next door, but still....
Thankfully, the Mistris had local attorney Rick DiGirolamo on their side. Rich fought on behalf of the Mistris and delivered a major win!
We understand that Market Basket was concerned about parking - I mean, who isn't? But really, this is Somerville. Parking has always been and will always be an issue. We see it here in Union Square all the time (thankfully we have our own lot).
If you want to run your business in the city, then get used to city life.
Never mind, a small family-owned grocer named Little India? I don't think Market Basket is going to lose too much business. And as far as parking goes, Little India doesn't have any now - it's a specialty store. Note to Market Basket: that's not high volume! Talk about blowing something out of proportion.
Penny-pinching titans with a scorched earth policy - we don't need 'em!
Somerville is synonymous with small business and it is about time little guys like us stand up to the corporate behemoths! Whether it's Somerville car repair, or international groceries, the little man is alive and well in Somerville. And he's just getting ready to fight!
Congrats, Mistris! Can't wait to see the new place!