North End residents, business owners to fight proposed Starbucks

BOSTON — Residents and business owners in the North End are expected to turn out in force to discuss a plan about a Starbucks slated to open up on Hanover Street.

A tourist destination. Boston's North End is a community built rich in history and culture, but one business that plans to move in isn't being welcomed by the neighborhood.

Longtime locals have been handing out fliers and even started a petition against Starbucks setting up shop. Their main argument is if a corporate business is allowed to open up in one of the country's last remaining Little Italy districts, it will open the door for other chains to come.

"We've established a neighborhood for 100 years," said Carmelina's & Vito's owner and North End resident Damien DiPaola.

DiPaola is leading the charge of fired up family-owned businesses against the coffee giant from opening at the corner of Hanover and Cross Streets, right at the gateway to Boston's Little Italy.

"You're not part of the neighborhood, Starbucks, you never will be," said DiPaola. "They're willing to screw every business and every neighbor."

MORE: North End businesses oppose Starbucks moving into the neighborhood

Connecticut-based Charter Realty declined to discuss specifics about the plans to build a Starbucks, but did promise to build an Italian heritage monument.

"You want to come down here and make us poor, stupid Italians happy cause you're going to give us a monument," said DiPaola.

Lynn filmmaker Rocco Capano produced a video portraying the community's growing fear that the North End's charm could be ruined if corporate chains are allowed to move in.

"Then there's going to be McDonalds, then Burger King," said resident Katie Torrence.

Thousands from all over are drawn to the area for its preserved Italian culture, boasting some of the best restaurants and pastry shops in the country.

Locals believe the proposed Starbucks would erode that very fabric their ancestors built years ago.

They also argue there are over ten Starbucks locations within a half mile of where the proposed location would go.

"Families came from Italy to build this neighborhood from scratch, they had 10 cents in their pocket," said David Ricco Jr., whose dad and uncle own Caffe Vittoria and Stanza dei Sigari.

Charter Realty is expected to attend Thursday night's public meeting.

Business owners and residents tell Boston 25 News they will be there in force and the online petition has more than 1,000 signatures.

The meeting will be held at the Nazzaro Community Center at 6 p.m.

Cox Media Group