Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

There have been tons of stores in Somerville that we used to shop in. I thought it would be fun to go back and revisit some of these places. I asked this question: what stores of old did you do your Christmas shopping at?

The hotspot in Davis Square was a store called The Bargain Center. If your toy had a burn mark or smelled like smoke it probably came from the Bargain Center who used to buy out fire stock and bankruptcy merchandise.

If you needed auto parts for a gift should probably go to Goss Auto also in Davis Square. Here are some reader comments.

“Bradlees, Zayres, Caldor and Child World.”

“Bradlee’s, Kresge’s, Park Snow.”

“Any store at Assembly Square Mall.”

“Bradlees on Somerville Ave and Marks and Gorin’s in Davis Square.”

“Lechmere Sales and Service Merchandise”

“Buck A Book in Davis Square.”

“We used to buy power tools and saws for dad at Somerville Lumber.”

“Don’t forget Woolworths and Grants.”

“Salvation Army. Couldn’t afford anything else I was very poor.”

“Even though it was in Medford, my parents did a lot of toy shopping at Child World.”

Looks like people remembered Bradlees the most. I’d say that today, Target is most reminiscent of Bradlees from back in the day. Also, the old Assembly Square Mall offered one stop Christmas shopping. These days I’ve become an avid Amazon fan.

I’d like to wish all our readers a safe and happy Christmas.