The Dorchester Market in Savin Hill, a staple on the corner of Dorchester Avenue and East Cottage Street for close to 70 years, marked its re-opening after a four-year absence last Saturday (Sept. 7) in a new space at the same corner.

Store owner Peter McGee and his two new business partners, Adam Sarbaugh and Jennifer Sandlin, say the market offers customers the “best of the old market” in a larger and newly built ground-level space along Dot Ave.

“The three of us worked very, very hard to make this come alive again and I hope the neighborhood is proud,” said McGee. “I’m very, very proud of it. The old building was 100 years old and it’s time had come, and we were able to build out this new and better market and I think the neighbors will be very happy with it.”

He has been involved with the market since he was 13, learning how to be a butcher and cut choice meats from his stepfather, Gene Vega. In 1986, he took over the store from Vega with a business partner who has since passed away.

Just before the pandemic, he decided it was time to upgrade the market and build a new mixed-use, four-story building on the site, which includes 38 housing units above the store.

Peter McGee raised his hand up in victory as the Dorchester Market celebrated an official grand opening on the corner of Dorchester Avenue and East Cottage Street – re-opening the store and butcher shop in a new building after a four-year absence. The store now offers beer and wine.

McGee is widely considered one of the best meat-cutters in the city – with fresh sirloin steaks and steak tips his specialty. The new market offers more and better fresh cut meats, he says, and will also have fish and shellfish available in the coming months. They have added a beer and wine section with highly curated offerings. The fresh fruit has returned, and as usual, is a highlight of the store and a step above in quality than some other markets. Meanwhile, sandwiches and deli items are served up daily, with some signature sandwiches being added to the menu.

Sarbaugh and Sandlin said the units above have been leased out for about a year now, and almost all of the residents are renewing their leases – a good sign for stability in the new building. Sandlin added that almost 70 percent of the early business traffic at the Market, which opened Aug. 3, has been from neighbors living within walking distance.

At-large Councillor Henry Santana and District 3 Councillor John FitzGerald joined the celebration and the ribbon cutting and offered remarks. “We lost this market for a bit, and we felt that, but now it’s back with a vengeance,” FitzGerald said.

Owner Peter McGee said he has worked in the Market since he was 13 and later took it over from his stepfather Gene Vega, in 1986.

Celebrating the grand opening were family members Maureen Rynkiewicz, Peter McGee, Kathy McGee, Barbara Ray, McKenzie Ray, and Trevor Faulkner. Seth Daniel photos

Working the deli and meat operations are Gina Sullivan and Jonathan Sceppa.