We, the residents, business owners, property owners, and community leaders of Boston’s South End, strongly oppose the proposed conversion of the Foodie’s Market storefront into a private school, The Croft School. While we recognize that we cannot control whether Foodie’s remains in operation, we can and must oppose the continued loss of essential retail and food-use space in our neighborhood.

At minimum, this ground-floor storefront must remain dedicated to retail or food use. Foodie’s has long served as a walkable, community-serving grocery option, especially for neighbors who rely on nearby access to fresh food and daily necessities, including residents of Villa Victoria and the Cathedral Public Housing Development. The South End cannot afford to lose its only grocery-capable space to yet another school expansion, particularly as The Croft School already occupies four former retail spaces in the neighborhood (Stella Restaurant, Stella Café, Barre 3 South End, and Petco).

We call on the City of Boston, the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA), the Zoning Board of Appeal, and the property owner to:

1. Reject any proposed change of use that would convert the space from retail/food use into a private school or other institutional use
2. Require that the space remain dedicated to retail or food use, prioritizing a grocery store or other neighborhood-serving food retailer, in keeping with the purpose of ground-floor commercial space
3. Ensure a transparent public process, including community notification and meaningful neighborhood input before any approvals are granted
4. Preserve an active, safe streetscape, including clear, lit storefront windows and a use that supports foot traffic, walkability, and public safety