In June, Fenway Health announced the closure of its Boomerangs stores in Jamaica Plain, the South End, and Cambridge’s Central Square. The decision was made due to financial losses, with the stores now losing over $500,000 a year, compared to bringing in a few hundred thousand dollars annually in the past.
Fenway Health has been supporting HIV prevention and wellness since the mid-1990s through its Boomerangs stores. Chris Viveiros, the director of communications at Fenway Health, expressed that Boomerangs has made a significant impact on supporting HIV care and services in Massachusetts. However, with the challenges facing brick and mortar retail stores, the organization needs to prioritize its health care services over retail operations. Viveiros mentioned that efforts will be made to support the approximately 50 employees currently working at the stores as they transition from their jobs.
Upon hearing the news of closure, customers took to social media to express a mix of sadness and frustration. Some placed blame on Fenway Health for the closure, arguing that it could have been avoided if better decisions were made about managing finances or expanding services. Originally opened by AIDS Action, which later merged with Fenway Health in 2013, these stores have been a staple in their respective communities for many years.
Viveiros acknowledged