# Arthur S. versus Arthur T.: Massachusetts residents only **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 28, 2014, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274 "2014-07-28T20:36:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274/21 "2014-07-29T13:39:52Z")
IIRC that law is for sites within 10 miles of the border, and then only with local approval. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274/22 "2014-07-29T13:42:18Z")
IIRC it’s only for sites within 10 miles of the border, and then only with local approval. Now that the offer has been made to the board, the company is “in play”, and likely will be sold to the highest bidder according to their fiduciary responsibility. That seems unlikely to be Arthur T and his partners. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274/23 "2014-07-29T14:09:50Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > IIRC that law is for sites within 10 miles of the border, and then only with local approval. No, the Malden Stop & Shop sells liquor, and it’s not within 10 miles of a state border, unless you count the ocean. I think you’re thinking of the liquor sales on Sunday law - liquor stores could only be open on Sunday if they’re in a town within 10 or 15 miles of a border with a state that allows liquor sales on Sunday. I believe that’s been revoked though, and any liquor store can open on Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274/24 "2014-07-29T14:45:41Z")
Arthur T, but put me in with those who don’t see this ending well. I’m just an overpriced Stop & Shop / Trader Joe’s / Whole Foods shopper these days, so it won’t affect me a ton either way. When I was younger, there was a Market Basket across the street from my grandmother’s house and we did grocery shopping for her a lot as she got older, so I’ve got relatively good feelings associated with the chain (let’s go to Demoulas, you can get some whoopie pies!). The closest one is a 20-25 minute drive out of the way, so as much as I’d love a bargain choice for the basic stuff, it’s not a realistic option. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274/25 "2014-07-29T15:35:25Z")
> [@Kiros](#): > > The closest one is a 20-25 minute drive out of the way, so as much as I’d love a bargain choice for the basic stuff, it’s not a realistic option. I’m almost in the middle between the two closest MBs to me One is a hair closer but it’s not as easy to get to as the other one. Both are in the same 20-30 minute time frame. I love a bargain too, but unless I’m doing a pantry stock-up, there’s no sense making a weekly trip to either one. I’m blessed to live within a 5-mile radius of three of MB’s competitors plus a TJ’s and a Whole Foods, so I pick and choose, depending on who’s having what on sale. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274/26 "2014-07-29T20:34:05Z")
Latest update is that the only offer on the table is from Team T. The saner minds are around the clock negotiating. The MB effect is telling: In New Bedford, they opened ONE MB. EVERY Shaws closed. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274/27 "2014-07-29T22:06:43Z")
Why are only Massholes allowed an opinion? 🙂 Over a third of MB locations are in New Hampshire and there’s even one in Maine. MB is my usual market, but I haven’t shopped there since the current brouhaha began and don’t plan to until it’s settled. I am inclined to support Artie T., though I’m not sure how far I would trust either faction. It almost seems like Arthur S. and his lot would rather see the demise of the whole company than to let Artie T. win. The swing vote is that of Rafaele Evans, who is from Arthur S.'s side of the family (his sister-in-law, I think) but who until recently supported Arthur T. I hope she’ll be the voice of reason in whatever the final settlement is. For a while I speculated that Wegmans might buy the chain, but that looks unlikely. For one thing, Wegmans prefers to expand organically. The two companies do have quite a lot in common though: they’re both privately held family companies that respect their customers and have well trained loyal employees. Wegmans has been looking to expand into New England, but they have bigger stores, higher prices, higher quality, and a much better selection. ---
**Author:** ![VernWinterbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c67d28/32.png) [@VernWinterbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VernWinterbottom)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274/28 "2014-07-29T22:16:46Z")
> [@The\_Vorlon](#): > > Latest update is that the only offer on the table is from Team T. The saner minds are around the clock negotiating. The MB effect is telling: In New Bedford, they opened ONE MB. EVERY Shaws closed. I had shopped at Shaw’s for nearly all my grocery shopping years before the New Bedford Market Basket opened. I was growing tired of Shaw’s limited selection and high prices (the Fairhaven one) and I was amazed at the difference in price and selection at Market Basket. Market Basket is also just about two minutes from my house. I was not at all upset by the closure of Shaw’s. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274/29 "2014-07-29T22:37:44Z")
Were I still in Reading, I likely would boycott them simply because they apparently don’t have much in stock. I only got dry and canned goods there, anyway (meat came from Stop and Shop; fruit and veggies from Calareso’s); and always planned on at least one thing on my list being out of stock. Prices made up for that inconvenience, and also for it being just about impossible to move around the store and to find a parking place. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274/30 "2014-07-29T22:39:57Z")
It’s pretty upsetting – the local Market Basket was excellent – low prices and excellent meats and produce. From what I hear, the chain was quite profitable and they had loyal customers. Those don’t seem like the normal conditions under which you fire a CEO. So I’m guessing that the Arthur S. side of the family just wants to siphon money out of the chain . So – Arthur T. Haven’t shopped there since this began, which is a problem because the local Shaws and Stop & Shop are expensive, further away, and have wretched produce sections. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274/31 "2014-07-29T22:59:23Z")
Before all this I knew nothing about Arthur S vs Arthur T, but if the employees are for Arthur T then I guess he’s the good guy. I like MB, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. The other supermarkets in this area are too expensive (Shaw’s, Star, Stop & Shop, etc.) (Yes Whole Foods is expensive but we buy most of our staples at MB.) ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274/32 "2014-07-29T23:38:01Z")
Never shopped there, on workers’ side, paradoxically. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274/33 "2014-07-29T23:43:00Z")
> [@Sal\_Ammoniac](#): > > That’s my store, so I totally know what you mean about the crowds. But as for the checkout, that’s one of the things that makes (made?) MB so great. When it’s crowded, they’ll have every register staffed, and I’ve even seen them bring on modular cashier stations, and have a traffic cop to manage the lines. Even at its most crowded, you never have to wait more than 15 minutes in line. Compare that to Stop 'n Shop, where they never seem to have more than three registers staffed. I last shopped there in the 90s, so it’s possible (probable even!) that technology has enabled them to alleviate some of the checkout problems. Glad to hear it, for the sanity of their shoppers! I will only shop at Stop & Shop under duress, and I grudgingly pick up odds and ends at the Porter Star because it’s super convenient on my commute home. I’m otherwise a Wegmans, Whole Foods and Roche Bros (delivery) girl. ETA: I miss Johnnie’s ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274/34 "2014-07-29T23:56:58Z")
Was on Facebook, supposedly the deposed CEO will return within 48 hrs. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2014, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274/35 "2014-07-30T00:24:21Z")
> [@Sal\_Ammoniac](#): > > If you’re not from Massachusetts, you can stop reading right here, You ain’t kidding! ---
**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2014, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274/36 "2014-07-30T01:24:49Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > No, the Malden Stop & Shop sells liquor, and it’s not within 10 miles of a state border, unless you count the ocean. That is the WORST Stop & Shop that I’ve ever been too. I go miles out of my way to avoid that one. > [@Motorgirl](#): > > ETA: I miss Johnnie’s Me too. Every day. I have no MB near me, so I don’t really follow this whole story too much. I came into the thread to fight my ignorance a little. It’s ok enough, but I don’t get the love for it. I guess when I factor in how long it takes to get to one, how crowded it is, and how long I have to wait in line, I don’t really care about the $5 I saved. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2014, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274/37 "2014-07-30T04:55:52Z")
The older stores that date from the era of internecine warfare look like something out of the Eisenhower era. The newer ones before the current shenanigans make the most inviting Stop & Shop look blah. I took my 82 year old mother to a new one, and her jaw was on the floor the whole time. Now if we could just get one in Fall River–the closed Shaw’s might be a good site, but word is it is too small. ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274/38 "2014-08-05T16:21:22Z")
Between the boycott and the empty shelves, they have been losing millions of dollars a day for weeks. If the family feud goes on long enough, they will end up bankrupt. How likely is this to happen? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274/39 "2014-08-05T16:22:35Z")
What is “Market Basket”? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274/40 "2014-08-05T16:29:25Z")
[A New England supermarket chain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeMoulas_Market_Basket), [currently caught in a family squabble](http://bostonherald.com/business/business_markets/2014/08/market_basket_workers_hit_the_picket_lines_again) which has shutdown 71 locations, at a a cost of 8-10 million dollars a day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arthur-s-versus-arthur-t-massachusetts-residents-only/694274.md?page=3)