Neighborhood rumblings about the rift between Chris Masci (owner of New England Open Markets) and Mario Nicosia (GTI Properties) have continued since my last post in early December, Can the South End host two farmer’s markets in the South End.
This past week I was contacted by another source who asked I not mention them by name. They indicated that Chris Masci has opted to expand his market on The Greenway to a three-day market (Friday – Sunday) and if true would presumably not host a South End farmer’s market in 2016. But this makes no sense to me since that would mean The New England Open Market would compete with the Boston Public Market (open Wed – Sun from 8AM-8PM). The Boston Public Market is close enough to be viable competition and it has the added advantages of having more vendors, public parking and access to the T.
I’m currently in Brazil and have not been able to connect with New England Open Markets to ask if this latest rumor is true but since my previous questions have either resulted in no response or denials about GTI hosting their SoWa Farmer’s market it is hard to say if I’d get a reliable response. Maybe larger blogs dedicated to such topics (e.g. EaterBoston or Hidden Boston) may be able to get more clarification. One thing that is quite clear, the proposed relocation of the South End Farmer’s Market under the I-93 expressway appears to be a deal breaker for many long-time vendors as yet another confirmed with me that they would not participate in the farmer’s market if it was located there.
BosGuy 
Hello Steve –
It is true that most of my posts are about what GTI is doing but that is hardly surprising when you think about all their tenants and residents. These are the people I know and the ones who approach me. I’ve been promoting the SoWa (now South End) Open Market since it started and could not care less who organizes or runs it. My sole interest is in this n’hood and if you look through my 20+ posts about the market you would note that nearly all talk about how fantastic this is to have in the SE.
I would like to set the record straight though and let you know that in the past I have reached out to NEOM via their info@ email as well as via Twitter. The responses have either been not forthcoming or misleading; suggesting that the Farmers Market relocation would be at the Ink Block (not true as it turns out) and that 100% of all the vendors from the farmer’s market would be following NEOM (also not true as it turns out).
So what would you have me do? Ignore the comments shared with me from friends and people in the n’hood whom I know? Perhaps you’d like to share something of what you know about NEOM. Feel free to email me at bosguymail@gmail.com.
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It’s funny you NEVER contact New England Open Markets but always seem to get GTI’s story and you live on GTI properties…conflict of interest much…you never report any facts only rumors you heard form unnamed sources which is basically means NOTHING…Chris who owns New England Open Markets has told you MULTIPLE times to contact him to get the actual story but you would rather spread rumors to help your landlord…this is the worst journalism I’ve ever seen…how about actually getting both sides for a change or writing about how ALL 3 of NEOMs holiday markets were MEGA success’ and GTI’s holiday market paled in comparison…all the vendors are going with NEOM and GTI knows nothing about running crafts shows…they are developers. NEOM has been running craft fairs, farmers markets and food truck festivals for 13 years now. NEOM has the support of his vendors and the public that follow NEOMs market everywhere.
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