tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495259053695893001.post4603233527506523155..comments2023-06-05T11:00:03.268-04:00Comments on Welcome to Ward 5 Online: Hot Topic of 2011: Magoun Gains Attention, Little Else...Ward Fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17778842318441687936noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495259053695893001.post-46633461258149550282011-12-24T12:52:38.622-05:002011-12-24T12:52:38.622-05:00Magoun, for lack of a better description, at one t...Magoun, for lack of a better description, at one time many years ago, was a successful "neighborhood" square occupied by retail entities with minimal turnover and long tenures---meaning little or no vacancies for any extended period of time.<br /><br />It, and its stores, survived basically on the patronage of walking customers residing north, south, east, and west of the square.....including bordering Medford residents..<br /><br />Sit-in full service restaurants----such as Lil Vinny's for example, were not there years ago; altho, some fast-food entities, such as Canty's Pizza-[where one could also have a beer with their pizza, if of age]--were present back then.<br /><br />So what retail entities were there years ago when the square was bustling?<br /><br />Some here might counter with the current ongoing adverse economy being what it is----has stifled businesses in Magoun Square; and, of course, might very well be.<br /><br />I "counter" with, Magoun, during the 1930's "Great Depression"---back in my childhood time, was very much alive and well. <br /><br />In addition to Courtney mentioning a few, there also was a 5&10 cent store; Kennedy's Butter & Egg Store; Sloane's Furniture, Well's Jewelery--[Mr. Well's also ran successfully for Mayor of Somerville]-- North End Fruit & Vegetable Market; Russ's Donuts [yes, the same Russ's Donuts that eventually relocated to the corner of Morrison Avenue and Highland Road---now gone. Russ started in Magoun Square.] A butcher/meat market; a fish market; Italian-American Grocery Store; a A First National Store; A & P Store; a musical instrument store, sales and lessons; a barber shop; a hair-dresser salon; at least one other bar-room in addition to Frenchy's---name escapes me; a small independant drug store; an arts and crafts store; a take-out sandwich shop; a radio/appliance repair shop. Possibly forgot one or two of the entities that were there when I was a kid, and my mother shopped there with me, or another sibling in tow. Needless to say, we walked to and from the square carrying shopping bags.<br /><br />Again, for emphasis.... NO SIT-DOWN FULL SERVICE RESTAURANTS back then. I guess "Old MAGOUN" is doing O.K. at this time; and hope they survive.<br /><br />Much more home cooking, sit-down, family meals those days.<br />[Before TV, computers, cell phones, video games, etc., etc.]<br />Now, regard sit-down home-cooked meals... different "strokes" for different "folks"---too bad! <br /><br />There were trips to Davis Square too---particularly to shop the "big" department stores.<br />Parke-Snow; Gorins; Grants, Kreske's-[Now K-Mart]-- Woolworth's; and other specialty stores not present in Magoun...and a quick lunch treat st the Waldorf Restaurant, now Mikes. We Walked back and forth from Davis too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495259053695893001.post-28493575615672665692011-12-24T09:30:54.103-05:002011-12-24T09:30:54.103-05:00one of your bestone of your bestAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com