Hillside Market — Local services in Boston

DO NOT SHOP HERE IF YOU ARE BLACK

This weekend I was racially profiled by the store clerk. I had gone into the store to buy some skittles. I had a small bag on me with two spiced cokes (a new variant of Coca Cola not sold at this store) and a copy of just dance 2 for the Wii. I walk take two steps bend down to grab the skittles at the front place them on the counter and tell the clerk just this. Immediately she accuses me of having multiple packs of skittles and I tell her no just this. She then proceeds to ask to look in my bag. I oblige because I just want to get in with my day. She sees the two cokes (again a variety they don’t sell at this location) she then goes to look in the fridge to make sure I didn’t steal them. A reminder I have taken two steps into this shop and have gone no where near the fridge I came only for the skittles which are kept at the front of the store. Once she sees nothing has been taken from the fridge SHE REVIEWS THE SECURITY TAPE! After all that she the finally scans my skittles they come out to $2.50. I guess she wasn’t satisfied by ruining my afternoon enough because she hits a few buttons on the computer and suddenly they are $4 plus tax. Frankly this is unacceptable behavior and this store will not be seeing my patronage again and the better business bureau will be hearing about the actions taken by...

There was an indian lady working the register that was very rude to me and another man in the store. She kept track of whatever i was grabbing. I decided i didn’t want one of the snacks that i grabbed so i put it away towards the back of the store. when i went up to the register she asked me where it was and i said i wasn’t buying it. then forced me to go to the back and grab the snack that i wasn’t buying and give it to her. almost to like prove i wasn’t stealing? So i went to where i left it and grabbed it and gave it to her and she gave me a nasty look. as if they don’t have 10 cameras already. then there was another guy in the back trying to decide what drink he wanted. she came to the back and yelled at him to close the door. she wouldn’t stop bothering him and he noted it had to do with his race. She was really disrespectful.The other guy that works there is always nice, i don’t know what...

Moving to a new neighborhood can have it's challenges. There is always a neighborhood store/market where you can go to get what you need and be greeted/welcomed by store owner/employees as well as great conversation.

As a person of color, I have never felt as though I, or any present while shopping was being discriminated against and I'm grateful.

This is my experience with Hillside Market and I am thankful they are my neighborhood store. I don't feel any negativity when shopping there as employees are professional and...