Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

Can you tell where the photo on the right was taken? It looks a bit different now (The answer is at the end of this story).

As much as a lot of people frown upon Facebook as a waste of time and merely an Internet fad, I for one depend on it for a lot of my research. Although my mind is full of old memories, sometimes it needs a jumpstart. Recently I posed this question: If you could bring back ONE store from the old days of Somerville, what would it be? Facebook responded in a huge way (over 700 responses). Are you ready for yet another jaunt down memory lane? Well, grab your shopping bag and let’s go! Might just as well say bring ‘em all back. (Can you find a repeat?)

La Contessa Bakery, Kay and Chips, Woolworths, Cilchrist’s, The Children’s Shop, Passicks, Gorins, Grants, Brighams, Friendly’s, BoBo’s Chinese Restaurant, Yees Village, Napoli’s Pizza, Thom McCann Shoes, Bargain Center, Bradlees, Sam’s Shoe store, Shea Five and Dime, Savel’s Five and Dime, Todi’s Sub Shop, Harold’s Luncheonette, Mitchell’s Variety, Cara Donna Bakery, Maria’s Cold Cut’s, Marios, Jack in the Box, Cummings, Highland Shoe, Butler Music, Bernie’s Music, Kresge’s, The Railside, Pine Tree, Pat Connolly’s, The Jumbo, Art and Bobs, Sir Francos’s, Kennedy Butter and Egg, Bradlees, Buster’s, Sunnny Deli, Ming Toy, The Venice, Frascatti’s, Steve’s Ice Cream, Joey’s Ice Cream, Learner’s, Lucy’s, Dairy Queen, Irving’s, Caterinos, Walnut Drug, Cedar Pharmacy, Reeds Drug Store, White Sport, Joe Izzy’s, Small’s Variety, Parke Snow, Kerner’s Drug, Hilda’s, Speedy Pizza, All Star Trophys, Primo’s, The Gas Light, Tip Top Market, J and S, Di Tucci’s, The Embassy, Sordillo’s, Loud’s Candy, Goodell Drug, Ray’s Fruit, Miller’s Market, Marks, Hobby Shop on lower B’Way,Rainbow Spa, Thurston Spa, (home of Johnny’s Special) J&S, Red’s Variety, Fanny Farmer, Lambro’s Roast Beef, Temple’s, Ball Square Fish, Prince of Pizza, Decelle, White Tower, Joe’s, Charlie’s, Johnny’s, Joe’s Spa, The Genoa, Somerville Lumber, Vera’s, Nan’s Sub Shop, Gross Cleaners, Mickey Finn, Supreme Deli, Hilda and Arthur’s, Sylvia’s, Don’s Variety, Kneelands, Kerble’s, Tony’s Foodland, The Cadillac, Apollo Cake, The Waldorf, The Blarney Stone, The Bullpen, Freddie’s Hardware, Sam Shoe, Modern Shoe, Beltram Locksmith, Bain’s Market, Leo’s, 160 Variety, Disc Diggers, Salvi’s Carpets, Jakes’ Variety, The Sweet Shop, Maher’s Market, Broadway Café, Oscar’s Variety, Pioneer Market, Roma Bakery, Cedar St. Market, The Coronet, The Paddock, Elliot’s Market, Russ’s Donuts, Lionel’s Barber Shop. Artie Ardolinos Barber Shop, Andy’s Donuts, Harry’s, Eddy’s, Orlando’s Bakery, Kemp’s, Ko-Z-Grill, Mac’s, Louie’s Cold Cuts, North End Fruit, El Greco and The A & P.

That’s it for me. Feel free to add your own. Some stores were mentioned again and again such as Joe Izzy’s, Bradlees, and Kay and Chips. There were a lot of bars and lounges that I didn’t mention. Perhaps we will do a list of those another time.

The photo above was taken at the corner of Farragut Ave and Broadway in the 60’s.