The Island Store

1.7 min readBy Published On: May 30th, 2015Categories: Features8 Comments on The Island Store

Sign of the times

It is with a heavy heart that we announce that The Island Store – located at the corner of N & Sixth – will be closing its doors.  Their last day in business will be Sunday, May 31st.  No more trips for rainbow slushes, to play the number, to pick up the Sunday Globe or maybe even a bag of Doritos at the little mom and pop shop.  

No word what will replace The Island Store.  Our fingers are crossed that maybe someone is buying it to transform it into an American Provisions-type shop with gourmet sandwiches, fancy cheese and wine, and really good coffee but it’s highly unlikely.  We’re going to make a wild guess that it’s going to be converted into condos.  What else is new, right?  “Back when we were kids, there used to be corner store on every block.”  But those days are long gone.  

We know we’ll be stopping by one last time to purchase a lucky scratch ticket – and it’s gonna be the winner! 

Old School Southie Nostalgia:
When I was a little girl, whenever I visited my grandmother’s house on Marine Road, one of my many aunts (not much older than myself) would walk me to the store at the corner of L&8th (now Mirisola’s). We called it “The Greeks.” It was owned and operated by the Pappas family and they all worked there. There were two brothers – John and Chris and two sisters Mary and Ann. They all wore smocks with their names embroidered on them. I remember they had a greeting card section up the stairs in the back, and a deli too. Near my house on Emerson Street, I would be sent to Nason’s Market at L and Fifth (Now L Street Diner) to buy Winston’s for my mother.  Don’t judge, it was the 70’s.

What was your favorite corner store? 

8 Comments

  1. lu obrien May 31, 2015 at 5:43 am

    so sad that another store is closing in southie. i hope this does NOT turn into another condo. i hope that who ever buys it will keep it a store where we can buy doritos, get a rainbow sluch and the boston globe or hearald. would be nice that who ever may buy this bring in a small deli so we can still get a spuckie…it is so sad that southie is not the way it used to be. call us condo city. thank you island deli for all you have done for us while you where in business. i hope that your new endeavors will be happy ones.

  2. Anonymous May 31, 2015 at 12:18 pm

    Aw, man.  Closest place to my apartment. Guess I'll have to walk to the Stop and Shop the next time I want trail mix during a snow storm.

  3. Andrea Neff Lynch May 31, 2015 at 2:00 pm
    Spots on G&8th. Had all the penny candy I loved and two beautiful German Shepards named Hunts and Hilda! ! Oh to be young again! !
    Of course there was also Georges on Gst where I bought all my stickers for my sticker album!!
  4. Lidabod May 31, 2015 at 2:07 pm

    Why would you want another American Provisions? Another corner store would be more useful, where you can afford to buy a few things you might need at the spur of the moment.

  5. Anonymous May 31, 2015 at 4:05 pm

    Yeah, residents of City Point needs a store closer to them so they can buy artisanal mushrooms and quail eggs.

  6. Anonymous June 2, 2015 at 10:30 am

    Is this comment real

  7. Anonymous June 2, 2015 at 12:42 pm

    Anything would be better than that eye sore. Hopefully the new owner will take some pride in ownership.

  8. Katie June 2, 2015 at 4:20 pm

    k & 8th was our corner store (still is!!) the Joseph's are great people & great friends. Theresa added up the total on the brown paper bag & then "put it on the bill" all while calling me Amy! Uncle Mike talked about boxing & smoked butts. Mr. Joseph was always such a gentleman. I always asked Pam  why she didn't work there, I thought it would be so much fun. I'm so glad they haven't gone anywhere & I hope the family business continues with Paul & phil's kids taking over.  

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