Inner-city grocery stores in poor areas often display spoiled meat and vegetables, broken refrigerators, empty shelves, dirty floors, and emit an odor from the fish section. Lillian Tyler of Kensington Park, Roxbury, who is black and only shops in Roxbury because it is within walking distance, says the overall quality in Roxbury markets is poor. Except for the very edges of the black community, not a single large-chain supermarket operates in Roxbury, Mattapan, or North Dorchester. Michael Hunter, a real estate manager for Supervalue supermarkets, which is involved with local grocers under various names, says the average household income surrounding a grocery store is the determining factor for the profitability of a market. Since the cultural history of work and career employment in poor black neighborhoods is less common, some, but not all, of the workers do not know what is expected of them when they take a job.
Absenteeism is more common, and there can be problems with punctuality and dependability.
Frank Miller, who managed the Morton Street Star Market in Mattapan in the 1970s, told Massachusetts News a high-turnover rate was a problem, and could be attributed to a lack of role models in the home with work experience. One of his best workers called in sick for work, instead of telling his boss he was going to be late, when he was forced to take a bus after his car broke down. Miller had to explain to him that it was better for him to come in late, than not at all. Marion says a high employee-turnover rate adds additional training costs, cutting the store's profits. Supermarkets in the black community must obtain most of their employees from the immediate neighborhood because a majority of their customers would want and expect that, he says.