Linden's Superette

by peter h.

Standing on the shaky legs of a local (and limited) grocery store is Allston's own Linden Superette.  Located at the corner of Brighton Avenue, and Linden Street it matches the aestheic of the surrounding neighborhood as it stares down Spikes Junkyard Dogs.The interior consists of two aisles and a freezer in the back.  The food selection is not what you would call conventionally appealing; many of the products appear to be testing the bounds and definition of "expiration date."  There are the constants of any convient store, with chips, soda and candy; but what sets the Superette apart are two items that many grocery stores give far too little attention:  Pornography and used Movies.The Movie collection is second to none, with a selection ranging all the way from the relatively obsure (Breakin' 2: Electric Bugaloo), to the completely  obsure (Gymkata).The Pornography collection is a varied, and disturbing, as anything you can find outside of that really dirty bookstore in Chinatown.  With publications like Club International, to a few with what appear to be Japanese symbols as titles, you could be at the stand all day - could be if not for the cashier/owner who will hurry you out to make room for the other customers to negotiate the narrow turns of the store.He only has one working arm, but that doesn't stop him from doing everything a normal cashier would do (just much slower) - don't offer to assist him because he doesn't need it, plus he only speaks some middle eastern language I am not familar with.Overall if you need a quick fix of Goya Pineapple Soda, Skittles, and a copy of the latest flavor of South Asian Porn, the Linden Superette is just what the doctor ordered.

by Ashley H.

The linden superette has saved my ass countless times.  No i would not buy certain things from this place, but its the only store that sells one of anything.  You need one battery?  One stamp?  One smoke?  And the men at the counter speak english.  Yes they also speak arabic, but they often joke with customers, and pretend not to speak any english.  I feel i will miss this place when i move out of the Allston hell hole.

by Heather P.

the cat is friendly and cans of coke are two for a dollar.

by Mike M.

First, I love how half the people who have reviewed this place have not even posted 10 reviews (myself included). It's that kind of place you get home from and just `have` to review. It's memorable, if not traumatic. Don't buy the jello. Seriously, I know I mixed it with lots of alcohol, but I am sure it was the 25 year old gelatin that made me see care bears and 12-winged vultures eating my friends and furniture. ... well, I guess if that's what you're looking for...I also experienced the guy not speaking english, though he greeted us in english and then later decided he didn't speak a word. And we left awkwardly, but clutching our ping pong balls (behind the counter man, that shit's gold around here) and Vitamin Water.

by Katie V.

As far as neighborhood corner bodegas go, Linden Superette fulfills all my needs and has a lot of character.  Ali is very friendly (he often calls me "Gorgeous") and the orange tabby cat that hangs out there is also awesome.  I often hit up the Superette when I'm too lazy to walk to the Star Market and while the prices are a little steeper (which is to be expected for a small store), they are open late and have basically everything I need at random hours -- cat food, milk, ice cream sandwiches, Hot Pockets, cereal, Tylenol.  They even sell stamps (at a slight mark-up, 50 cents each) and individual AA batteries.

by Daniel S.

Oh, Ali.  If you get offended by Ali then you're taking things way too seriously.  He's an awesome guy who will say ridiculous things, sure, but will also have a 20 minute conversation with you about hookah and life back home.Anyway, Linden's is the place for shisha, coals, and whatever else you need when it's 2 am and you just want to smoke some hookah.

by Allix T.

is scary. It's right down the street from me and I've only ever entered once. Plus the cat hates me and is really scary.Rumored that they sell porn too...

by Elena C.

i love ali so much, there are no words...i used to go to his store specifically to see him and hear him tell his dirty jokes...great after a night of drinking! his fat kitty is adorable too..will always remember boston fondly and ppl like ali are the reason why!

by alex M.

I lived right next door to this place for four years. In that time I knew Ali (the one you guys call creepy) on a first name basis. The Superette rocks! It is a one of kind place that you will never find anywhere else. As far as selection goes, it has, all the small stuff like ping pong balls, and cards, as well as an awesome Ben Jerry's selection. The cat they have there is pretty awesome, and the fact they smoke inside sthe store without any care to smoke free store policies is pretty awesome as well.My only lament is that they did not sell tator tots. why???If porn in a corner store bothers you, then you need to A. move to a suburborB. go to a store 24 or 7-11Or at the very least, avoid this place.But the best part about that place was Ali. My roomates and I had tons of stories of what he said to us on our way back from the bars or any other time in there. You never knew what you'd see when you walked in there late at night, usually a few people would be hanging out with him behind the counter.The place typifies the Allston experience.

by Jess R.

soooo, superette, its you.  you creepy old corner store.i have mixed feelings. sometimes i love it sometimes i hate it. there are two guys who work here that are creeptastic but they are SO creepy that they've become not creepy anymore. that happens sometimes with dudes.any time i've run out of anything at my house ive been able to run here and replace it so thats a plus. If I ever need porn i know where to go. ben and jerry's? they've got it. Butts? yup. cat? check.  hookahs?  yes. it open late every nite, eh what the heck i'll give em 4 stars because i don't know what i would do without em.