Atlantic Food Mart, a Reading landmark, has a buyer

As much as I am for the advancement of "adding to the urban quality of that area of town", and as much as I understand the fact that this store has been hurt by the latest additions of the other supermarkets, I'm extremely disappointed to see Atlantic go. As a citizen of Reading, and a former employee of the supermarket, I know just what a convenience it is to have a great, family-oriented store like this one available. Not only do people from several surrounding towns come to shop here (I personally know a few senior citizens that come all the way from Melrose! Wow!), but this store also offers jobs to people that really need them! It's especially convienient to the youth of Reading, as it's a great place to start as far as jobs go. It's going to be a real shame to see Atlantic go. To Arnold and the rest of the devoted staff, the best of luck to all of you!

What a loss and let's just hope we get a grocery downtown as many locals like to walk there and commuters can get stuff, and of course a community bulletin board and maybe it might feel like the community space it was for so long. Suppose a thanks to Mr. Rubin is in order for running it for so long and making it his livelihood, but at the moment I am too sad.

i am really going to miss the italian subs made by atlantic staff. my wife and i would shop there before going to the beach. we are both really sad to see it go. The staff was so nice, and i really liked that atlantic hired people with disabilities. It is also the only store i know with an aisle labeled for Cheezits. Lets hope the bookstore they try to get is a good one!!! We will go back for one more italian sub before it closes. thanks for the memories.

What TERRIFIC news!!!

Hey, great news! Another aparment complex ic coming to reading! Tell the teachers class sizes are going up again next year!

With the congestion in this area I am surprised an apartment complex is being squeezed in. A coffee shop/bookstore is nice, but the practical, small local supermarket will be gone. In my neighborhood in North Reading, a family-owned bowling alley where my son and his friends would meet and have birthday parties was sold and replaced with a Walgreen's. The local meet-and-greets are being replaced by more impersonal chains or banks or apartments/condos. Ideally, a new coffee shop/bookstore in Reading would have the feel of a community center, with bulletin board, reasonable prices, and space for locals to sit and talk. I hope the Town of Reading sees the value of imposing these kinds of requirements on the developer.

I grew up there. It's about time someone put them out of Buisness. I knew Market Basket and Stop& Shop would close them down

The town should limit the number of new apartments that come to town. Look at all the police activity at Archstone. Do we really want our neighborhood to become a haven for trouble? I also know first hand how poor our town hall is at helpingg small mom and pop shops open up. If they do not get their act together we will be taken over by corporate comglomerates who have the legal and bizz development squads to deal with such a poorly run town hall.

Atlantic's passing is a blow to the community. It's been more than a great store, contributing the the quality of life in town. Now that this is a done deal, I also urge the town authorities to do all they can to provide a good alternative. We need to be moving towards having quality stores downtown and keeping the community alive.

Thanks to all at Atlantic for everything you've been in the 22 years since I arrived in this country.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Maybe they'll be condos, who knows. Nobody said anything about apartments. It's all still preliminary, we will find out more and make a judgment then.

If they're condos, count me in. Who wouldn't want to live above a food store (I'm a HUGE foodie) across from a pharmacy, a few great restaurants near by, not to mention a coffee shop and a bookstore? And next to the train? In a suburban town with terrific schools? Sounds like a dream come true.

I have shopped at Atlantic every week (sometimes more than once a week) for 6 years. It is a short distance from my house and I have enjoyed many walks with my two sons to pick up freshly baked corn muffins (their favorite!). I have even walked with an empty stroller and filled it with a week's worth of groceries--much to the amusement of the staff and customers of Atlantic. Atlantic has been more than just a grocery store to me. It has been a community touchstone--from the community bulletins at the back entrance to its philanthropic presence at many community events. Not only were the food selections excellent (good produce, organic offerings), but the beer and wine was a fun addition, especially the tastings on Fridays and Saturdays (Thank you, Richard). Mr. Duffy (the manager) of the store was quiet but very responsive. The employees were always helpful and friendly. I don't think I ever had to wait longer than a few minutes in line. I am so incredibly sad at the loss of Atlantic, for me and my family personally, but even more for the town of Reading which just lost a tiny piece of its history and character. Thank you, Mr. Rubin and thank you to the entire staff of Atlantic. You will be missed.

Oh no!! I've lived in Reading for just over a year now, and living near Atlantic has been a HUGE benefit for me--I take the train to work everyday, and it is great to stop in and buy groceries on the way home from work. My boyfriend and I do all our weekend grocery shopping there, too. Yes, there are other stores nearby, but they aren't so easy to walk to, and they are so busy I can't wait to get out (especially at Market Basket.

PS: I can't imagine why a developer would want to build a residential development these days, anyway!

My family shopped at Mr.Rubin's ATLANTIC MARKET for 20 years at least, with great satisfaction. I always appreciated Mr. Rubin's sincere regard for our town and its peopl, and his generous contributions to many of its cultural organizations.