Vendors surrounding Fenway Park said they have mixed feelings about being moved off Yawkey Way for the creation of the new enclosed concourse which allows only ticket holders to enter and serves only food from Aramark, the official Fenway concession company.
Many vendors said they were unhappy about the new concourse but said they will comply with the forced move and have no plans to protest.
Norm St. Onge, a 50-year-old security guard and part-time vendor, said when vendors signed their contracts for this season, they made an agreement that if asked to move off Yawkey Way they would comply. In turn, vendors would be guaranteed renewal of their vending lease next season.
St. Onge said he thinks the vendors will become “financially squeezed” as a result of the move. Without being able to access Yawkey Way, the vendors are forced to operate in a limited space which cannot accommodate all sellers, he said.
St. Onge believes it will be difficult for the vendors to compete against Fenway concessions, live entertainment and opportunities for player autographs at the new concourse.
Vendor Keith Duram, 50, said he was not shocked by the move, which he had heard rumors about since June.
Duram, who sold only two hats during his first hour at last night’s game, said his business has already been hurt by the new concourse.
“We would rather stay on Yawkey Way, but this is just the way life is and you don’t always get what you want,” Duram said, voicing a feeling shared by most of the vendors, many of whom have been working at Fenway for over twenty years.
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