News that The Gap will be vacating the Wellesley Square space it has occupied for nearly 30 years has saddened those who shop there or did when they lived around here. It’s also triggering nostalgia for shops that have moved on in years past.
We found this poster, undated and somewhat erratic on actual locations, that shows a tremendously different Wellesley business landscape from not that long ago. Some continue to operate, including Captain Marden’s and Maugus and Ice House, but many others no longer exist. Whatever became of Successful Singles?
For those of you who have lived here for a while, or who used to live here, take a trip down memory lane. Any guesses as to when this poster was printed? (We don’t know.)
A few places that stand out in my memories of being a kid there in the mid-eighties are Filene’s, Different Drummer, Olkens (and their fantastic selection of Corgi toy cars), and Emack and Bolio’s. There was another standout – a little eatery by the name of Annabelle’s. Annabelle and her staff were so gracious to us kids. Good memories.
Thanks for sharing Mike….I had to look up Corgi toy cars. BobB
Bildner’s is the best clue.
Opened September 1987 and closed September 1988 so that’s a pretty narrow window.
Thanks Parker, good detective work. Didn’t realize it was so short-lived here
Really will miss Brueggers Bagels!
Late 1970’s. -early 80’s I thought earlier however Bob Decters is not there!!! Ann Starr is not there or Bailey’s!!!
Could it have been printed @ Windsor Press? Maybe Tory DeFazio would know ~
Innovative Publishing is the publisher
Those businesses on that poster had replaced pretty much all of the stores of my youth in Wellesley in the 1950’s and 1960s. Attempting to follow your scanning of the poster, which wasn’t easy I must say, was not a nostalgic moment for me, rather it only made me feel even older than I already am! Thanks for your efforts all the same.
yes, sorry about the dizzying scanning, tried a few different ways
Bildner’s was short lived grocery gourmet shop. 1987-1989?
Memories.
Those were the days….
That’s early 80s
I remember all those businesses
I worked at Great Beginnings