The hulking Boston Beef Co. building dwarfs the nearby three-deckers on Lafayette and Ellsworth streets. A timeworn painted advertisement on one side still pitches kielbasa and other meats. But it's obvious the massive brick building has been empty for years.
Weeds sprout from the foundation and sturdy, twisting vines block entry to a rear passage.
There are no cars in the parking lot, and the doors are padlocked. The building once housed the Whiting Milk Co., and part of the complex served as home to the Worcester Brewing Co., which produced Tadcaster Ale and Dugan's Beer until 1962. For some time, the building has stood empty. About two years ago, the city began acquiring the four parcels on which it stands for nonpayment of taxes. Fearing another catastrophe, city officials say they have made sure it is secure.