Roslindale Celebrated at Boston Main Streets Awards

Roslindale was celebrated at the annual Boston Main Streets Awards.

Roslindale’s El Chavo Mexican Products and Roslindale Farmer’s Market co-chair Jaime Pullen were honored at an awards ceremony on Thursday, May 17, at 6pm at the Strand Theatre in Dorchester. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, together with the Boston Main Streets, recognized them along with award recipients from the Main Streets districts throughout the city. 

Each of the neighborhood-based districts recognized one 2011 Business of the Year and one Volunteer of the Year.

El Chavo Mexican Products received the 2011 Outstanding Roslindale Business Award.  The Mexican specialty shop, located at 4254 Washington Street, is a one-stop shop for home cooks from Boston and beyond seeking hard-to-find Mexican specialties and ingredients like Mexican cheeses, spiced chorizo, husks for homemade tamales, hard-to-find spices and vegetables, and even Coca-Cola bottled in Mexico.

“Owners Alejandro and Lucy have been enthusiastic participants, putting their best effort forward at special events, creatively showcasing their ethnic foods and traditions,” said Stephanie M. Cave, Roslindale Village Main Street executive director.

Roslindale resident Jaime Pullen, who co-chairs RVMS Farmers’ Market and is also RVMS Board Member, received the outstanding Roslindale Volunteer Award.  

“Jaime’s vision, energy and expertise helped to transform the market into what has been called a model Farmers’ Market for the City of Boston and beyond,” said Cave. 

Pullen came to RVMS five years ago as a consultant leading strategic plan development then focused her talents on the RVMS Farmers’ Market. The market, held every Saturday from June–October from 9 am-1:30 pm in Adams Park, features an average of 25 vendors weekly, selling a range of fresh produce, fruit, meat, honey, cheese, preserves, local baked goods and handcrafted items, along with offering live acoustic music and kids’ activities. This year, opening day is June 2.

Roslindale Village Main Street was established in 1985 as the first urban Main Street Program in the nation. This nonprofit organization brings together residents, business owners, and public agencies with a common stake in supporting a vibrant and healthy neighborhood business district. Boston Magazine placed Roslindale on their 2011 “Best Places to Live.”

In 1995, Boston Main Streets initiative was created by Mayor Menino as the first urban, multi-district Main Streets program in the nation and created with the goal of establishing thriving commercial districts throughout the city. Today, Boston Main Streets provides funding and technical assistance to neighborhood-based Main Streets districts throughout Boston and has served as a national model to urban areas seeking to revitalize neighborhood commercial districts including Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Milwaukee, Detroit, and New Orleans.