After 40 years in the same location in Dudley Square, ethnic food market pioneer Tropical Foods is opening up a brand new store on Feb. 4.
The new store, located on the corner of Washington Street and Melnea Cass Boulevard in Roxbury, expands the size of the supermarket from 8,500 square feet to 21,000 square feet.
According to Ronn Garry Jr., who owns Tropical Foods with his brother Randy, the expansion will allow the supermarket to add thousands of new items to the stores shelves.
The supermarket is renowned for its selection of ethnic foods such as curries, rice, beans and other specialties from around the world and has a very loyal customer base.
“It was time to move on to a new location,” Garry said. “I think people are going to really like the comfort of the new store and how it retains its character while becoming bigger. To me it still feels like Tropical Foods just in a new location.”
Tropical Foods, originally called El Platanero was opened in Dudley Square in 1974 by Cuban native Pastor Medina. In 1988, Pastor sold the store to his son-in-law, Ronn Garry Sr., who named it Tropical Foods. Ronn Garry Jr. and Randy Garry bought the store from their father in 2006.
