There is one aspect of community life that seems to have been overlooked in the discussions around the new Whole Foods store. The area in front of the Hi-Lo seemed to serve as a de facto gathering space for some Latino men from the neighborhood. Almost every time I visited Hi-Lo, there would be a group of men sitting in front the store talking, smoking, playing dominoes and enjoying each other’s company. Whole Foods might consider providing a similar set-up—perhaps with some outdoor tables, chairs and benches—as a gesture of hospitality to local residents. While it would not compensate for the loss of Hi-Lo, I think it could ease the transition by providing a space for a social center for the men who have regarded it as their special gathering place.
Ross Gelbspan
Jamaica Plain