MB employees stand strong as stores go empty

Acting manager Kevin Demasky stands in a nearly empty Rochester store on Friday. He said, despite the stalemate, he's optimistic things will get back to normal soon and that ousted CEO Artie T., and the store, will prevail. (Harrison Thorp/Lebanon Voice)

ROCHESTER - As the Market Basket standoff enters its ninth day employees at the Rochester store on Friday stood steadfast in their solidarity with ousted CEO Arthur T. Demoulas and remained optimistic that their beloved leader will be reinstated soon, either as the new owner of the store or after being rehired by the current board of directors.

The man known affectionately as “Artie T.” by employees earlier this week made an offer to buy the company from a group of investors led by his cousin, Arthur S. Demoulas. The two have been feuding ever since Arthur S. won a controlling interest in the store 20 years ago after a court battle over how the profits were being divided among the Demoulas family.

“Arthur S. changed the name from DeMoulas to Market Basket and Artie T. was ready to walk,” said Kevin Demasky, acting manager at a virtually empty Rochester store on Friday. "He (Artie T.) was going to go to Rhode Island and start a chain. I was ready to walk with him.  Ever since then they’ve been fighting like cats and dogs.”

Protesters urging support for ousted CEO Arthur T. Demoulas hold placards and wave to motorists passing by Market Basket on Milton Road on Friday afternoon.

 The supermarket success story began in 1916 when Greek immigrants Athanasios ("Arthur") and Efrosini Demoulas opened a grocery store in Lowell, Mass., specializing in fresh lamb. In 1954, they sold their store to two of their six children, the brothers Telemachus ("Mike") and George Demoulas. Within 15 years, the two brothers had transformed their parents’ small store into a more modern supermarket chain consisting of 15 stores.

The family feud began when one of the two brothers died and a decade later in the early ‘90s his side of the family claimed they had been cheated out of some of the profits. Majority ownership of the company was awarded the family – headed now by Arthur S - in a Massachusetts court and the rivalry was on.

Demasky said the first thing Arthur S. did after gaining control was change the name of the store to Market Basket. The two cousins have been feuding ever since and the bitterness is born more of sheer hatred than greed, he said.

Demasky, of Rochester, said he’s been working for the company for 28 years, 22 of them at the Rochester store.

A few random melons and some greens are all that's left in a produce aisle inside the Rochester Market Basket on Friday.

He said the board should accept Artie T’s offer, but if they don’t, “he’s got a few things up his sleeve, I’m very optimistic.”

While the store was empty but for a handful of customers checking out at a single aisle where cigarettes are sold, motorists driving along busy Milton Road honked horns and shouted support for a line of picketers at the entrance to the store’s parking lot.

Employees manning the signs said they were hopeful their fallen CEO would be returned to his rightful place.

“I am so proud to be doing this,” said Megan Provencher, 18, of Rochester. “I’ve been working here three years. I played sports (at Spaulding) and they never had a problem with me taking time off. They even asked me to be a manager while I was playing sports.

“I’ve never seen anybody stand up for anything like this.”

Another picketer, Evan Drouin, 19, or Rochester, who has worked for the store since he was 14, said he doesn’t think the store can stay open very long without deliveries being made. He said the only trucks coming in now are from vendors.

Many employees are distrustful of Arthur S. and two co-chief executives who were brought in from outside the company: Felicia Thornton, a former executive of the grocery chain Albertsons, and Jim Gooch, former president and chief executive at RadioShack Corp.

Industry analysts agree that the Arthur S. side is pushing for a greater return to shareholders, while Arthur T. wants to continue the tradition of low prices and generous compensation packages for employees.

Employees fear their bonuses and profit-sharing will be stripped away and prices will go up if “Artie T” is not at the helm.

Meanwhile, Demasky would like to see Artie T. orchestrate the buyout and change the name back to DeMoulas.

“I’d love that,” he said.