Brogan: Tis The Season To Be Jolly!

Downtown Concord has been adorned for the Holiday Season for quite a few weeks and locals and visitors have been filling the streets and stores. The last two years were relatively quiet, due to the pandemic. It seems that this year everyone is eager to be again part of this great community.

While some would like to feel that they rescued the alleged "City in a Coma" during the last decade or so, downtown Concord was the furthest thing from that moniker to any of us who lived here during the 50's, 60's 70's and even 80's. Until the arrival of the Steeplegate Mall just over thirty years ago, it was possible to find anything you might need in our bustling downtown.

While that might seem like an overstatement to those who were not there, it's true.

The passing parade of businesses, many owned and operated by locals, would have to include, three five and dimes (Newberry's, Kresge's and Woolworths) such department stores as Penny's, Sears and Grants. Concord could boast of four bookstores (Apple Tree, Gibson's, and Bookland not to mention a great used bookstore in a basement on Warren Street). Three Candy stores (Granite State, Fanny Farmer and Sweet Surrender), numerous jewelers including Elliott's, Fickett's and Scott's, as well as sporting goods that could be found at Ozzie Waite and Haggett's.

We also had Mickey Finn, Army and Navy not to mention stationers such as Brown and Saltmarsh and Tom Ray. Concord Camera and Dunlap Photo were always ready to help you develop those pictures of holiday get-togethers. Radio Shack was about far more than just radios and French's could help you find anything musical for every taste. French's Toy Store and Toy City made thousands of local children very happy on Christmas morning.

Main Street had multiple travel agencies including Rumford Travel and Concord Pet and Aquarium provided a lot of youngsters with their first goldfish. For that special greeting card, you had to look no further than The Card Gallery or Caardvark.

If you needed shoes, Johnson's and the Brown Shoe Store were popular stops. Diversi's was a popular spot to pick up food items and just about anything else you might decide you wanted to consume on the spur of the moment. Downtown pharmacies included the Corner Pharmacy, Nault's Fanaras, Fortier's and Robert's.

The clothing selections from more than a dozen downtown stores, ran the gamut from traditional, to outrageous. Dorothy Bailey Shop, Benjamins, Isis & Rasputin, Hooz's, Lynch Shop, Solomons, The Bell Shop, McQuade's, Mark E. Ltd, Edward Fine, The Youth Center, The Varsity Shop, The Junior Deb Shop, Hardy & McSwiney, Rare Essentials and others.

If you had a hankering for food, all of the five and dimes had celebrated luncheon counters as did most of the pharmacies. You could also enjoy amazing ice cream treats at McKenzie's Ice Cream Parlor. Star Hot Dog kept Pleasant Street hopping for many decades.

For something more substantial there was Charos, The Endicott Grille, Hazel Green, Harry's Steakhouse, Tio Juans, B. Mae Denny, The Ambassador Steakhouse, Thursday's, The Puritan which later became The Talk of the Town, Foodees, the Millstone, Callahan's, Week's Family Restaurant, home of the famed, "Weeksie Burger" and so many more.

All stores remained open until 9 on Friday evening, and downtown Concord became a teeming metropolis, with thousands pouring in and out of businesses, banks and the two-downtown movie theaters, the Concord and the Capitol. For many, it was as much a social experience as a retail shopping trek. The community connections ran deep.

In my latest book, A Sprinkling of Stardust Over the Outhouse, I write lovingly about this magical place so many of us call home. I have received more than 2,500 letters and emails from people who have read about Concord, through my book. For those who lived here, it stirred vivid memories of a very special time in a very special place. For others, it has made them curious enough to plan visits. I know they won't be disappointed in what they find.

Happy Holidays to all and I am hopeful that 2023 bring all of us new memories to make, new adventures to embark upon and much happiness and good health.