#building19

Dear Tumblr users:

I don't often post original blogs.  I usually reblog.  I more or less use tumblr to store things I like.  Rarely is it a forum for my own original ideas or life. 

Not today.

Today, I found out that the beloved Building #19, from my home state of Massachusetts, is closing.  One of my best friends from IL originally thought it was odd that I had such an affinity for the state, because I left when I was 8.  I found her comment offensive, because Massachusetts is amazing and infinitely superior to IL in many ways, but I love both for different reasons.  In addition, we kept our cabin in Maine for a few years after we left, and we went for a month every summer until the summer before eighth grade, so I got my yearly dose of East Coast time and was indoctrinated still in East Coast culture, much like when Polish people or those of other nationalities get sent to the mother country to spend time with their families and learn what it means to be Polish, etc. 

Anyway, we used to go to Building #19.  Building #19 is like a Big Lots, meaning a store where overstock, fire-rescued items, etc. were sold to the store and the discounts passed on to consumers.  However, Building #19 was unabashedly dirty and the merchandise was even better.  On a visit in 2008, my mom found Michael Kors heels for $20.  The store also smelled like old cigarettes, a smell I love to this day and cherish in stores like Home Depot or Menard's.  It was one of the places growing up that I learned how to be a thrifty shopper.

In addition, the stores had funny comics all over the walls.  The one we used to go to had an Oscar the Grouch cartoon on the wall.  Building #19 is known for its artwork painted on the walls and found in the circular.

Oh, the circular.  It was a treat to go back and get the previously taken for granted circular.  It had great cartoons, like at the store, and stories on how Building #19 had come across the merchandise.  It gave lame jokes as well.  It was truly a treat. 

So yeah, when I found out today, I was a little sad/pretty sad.  I hope that Jerry makes some reincarnation of the store work, as he was talking about in an article.  It would be a shame to completely lose an East Coast icon.