Somerville landmark closes doors

By Matthew McLaughlin

As of 1 a.m. Tuesday, Somerville residents will have to find another place to play pool, watch sports and shoot at each other with lasers.

Good Time Emporium, the multi-use complex that has entertained the Greater Boston area for 17 years, had its last call. The building is making way for IKEA, the Swedish furniture store that will mark the symbolic beginning of a new era for Assembly Square.

Although it was the last day, the late afternoon crowd treated it like another day at Good Time. Families ate pizza and birthday cake, pool sharks played for hours and youths sunk dozens of gold coins into arcades. The closing was anticipated for more than a year, but the abrupt closing came to a surprise to some customers and, apparently, the Good Times itself.

“Although we had anticipated remaining in business for several more months, our landlord, Federal Realty Investment Trust, has just informed us that we need to vacate the building by June 30,” Good Times website said. “It has been our pleasure to serve the people of Somerville and surrounding communities. And, we are proud to have been able to support numerous groups who have benefited from our presence in the city.”

Several visitors said they remember Good Times for its family friendly atmosphere. Richard Saron, a West Somerville resident, said he will miss bringing his children to birthday parties.

‚ÄúIt’s kind of a bummer,‚Äù he said. ‚ÄúIt was a fun place to go.‚Äù

Although he enjoyed it while it lasted, Saron said he understands the importance of the future change.

“It is a good thing for Somerville,” he said. “Hopefully it (IKEA) will bring some jobs into the city. I feel it will put Somerville on the map a little more and bring more money in.”

Andy Lond, a Quincy resident, said he comes to Good Times weekly to play pool. He was surprised to hear his favorite hangout was closing that day.

‚ÄúI love Good Times because I grew up in this place,‚Äù he said. ‚ÄúThey don’t have places like this anymore.‚Äù

Lond said he is unsure if he will make the trek out to the new Good Times when it re-opens in another location, possibly Brockton. He personally did not care for the new furniture store moving in.

‚ÄúTo me, I don’t really go to furniture stores,‚Äù he said. ‚ÄúGuys don’t care about furniture.‚Äù

Pat Magro, a Wakefield resident and employee at Good Times on and off for 15 years, said he was disappointed to see the place close.

‚ÄúIt’s sad. It’s been a way of life around here,‚Äù he said. ‚ÄúGood Times is no more.‚Äù

Magro said more than anything he will miss the many visitors who frequented the establishment.

‚ÄúI’ll definitely miss the diversity of people coming in and seeing the life in the little kids faces,‚Äù he said.

While the Emporium was seen as a family oriented place to many, Good Time had its share of problems, including a near riot on Easter Sunday this year and a murder on April 21, 2007. Despite these incidents, Magro said the long track record of good outweighs the brief moments of bad.

‚ÄúFor the amount of years it’s been open, there have been very few incidents,‚Äù he said. ‚ÄúIt gave people something to do to stay out of trouble.‚Äù