As a longtime downtown Northampton property owner, I knew the city was in trouble when the following businesses closed: Carlson’s Clothing, Lizotte’s, Woolworths, Stewart’s College Town, Anne August, Gere’s Jewelers, Fanny Farmer, Sears, Schermerhorn’s, Fine’s, Daniels Clothing, O’Brien Drugs, Wally’s Soda Bar, Mike’s Tavern, Budgars, Ma & Pa Tomeo’s, Bergers, Singer Sewing Machine, Branwin, Montgomery Ward, Sabin’s, Rahar’s, The Regis, Gleason’s, Chilson’s, Lazy River, Hugo’s, The Red Lion Diner, Jack August, Ruby’s Furniture, Bonducci’s, Bart’s, The Tree House, David’s Shoes, The Bootery, Forbes and Snyder, Northampton Lumber, The Bay State Hotel, Cahill & Hodges, Raymond Insurance, Hampshire Realty, the old Delraye, the new Delraye, The Gayla, Beardsley’s, Sherman Jewelers, the Bagel Deli, Naegele’s Bakery, Normand’s Bakery, Rybeck’s Electric Bakery, The Soup Kitchen, Andiamo, Hot Tomato, Federal Hardware, Teppers, Cima, TJ’s Sports Bar, the Eiderdown Shop, Pleasant Video, the Pleasant Street Theatre, L&H TV, Harvard Pizza, Contemporary Trends, Gazette Printing, The Filling Station, Sze’s Restaurant, Country Comfort, Morrison Opticians, Whalen’s… just to name a few.
Wait. Now that I think of it, downtown Northampton survived all of that and more. Whew! I guess you need to take a long-term perspective.
ALAN SCHEINMAN
Holyoke