Comments on: Shoppers World in the Era Before Big Box; Framingham and Natick, Massachusetts

By: Jonathan Lhota

Jonathan Lhota — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:17:28 +0000

I sure miss Shopper’s World.

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:03:46 +0000

Wow. Looking at these pics brings back so many memories. I remember the toy soilders and the decorations at Christmas. Wish the mall was still their.

By: Stephen McD

Stephen McD — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 06:58:40 +0000

Wow, I thought I was the only one who missed all of this……Born and raised in Natick, and having been away from there for 7+ years I seriously miss the days of Carvel on the corner of Speen and Rte 9.When Speen and Rte 9 went TWO directions only.
This is the reason the world is messed up.Kids don’t have a fountain like in front of the Sears entrace to hang at. This is a great page.Thanks for the memories guys!!

By: frank

frank — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 04:53:18 +0000

Does anyone remember the Camolot Lounge at Shoppers Wrold? Any one have any photos?

Thanks,

By: Bruce B.

Bruce B. — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:21:24 +0000

Love this collection of photos. Lots of good memories here. Like many in my age group (early 50’s) I remember weekend trips to Shopper’s world. It was considered a “treat”. I didn’t even mind waiting for mom, while she tried on clothes, because that old Jordan Marsh store was a fun place to be. All those old stores, Laurence Stationary, Fitt’s Photo, all had good people. Of course, lunch at Friendly’s on the lower level was a fine treat indeed. A fine steak dinner could be had at the Roundup on the upper level. No comment on the Papa Gino’s that replaced it. In its heyday, Hermans was a great place for top quality sporting goods.

I recognize two of the gentlemen in the photos of the old cinema lobby. They were the managers. Any idea what happened to them? I’ve never seen them at the new cinema on Flutie pass. I remember how they kept unruly teenagers in line.

Dan is correct. The people who make these multi-million dollar decisions are usually suits, located in places like New York, or Los Angeles,or somewhere where huge sums of money and pieces of paper change hands daily. They don’t know, and don’t care what their actions really do.

I can accept the passage of time, and that all things have to come to their eventual end. But still, it “stings” just a little.

I agree, the new “shopper’s world” is simply a strip mall with a gigantic parking lot. Some things are “just wrong”, and the loss of the old shopper’s world is one of them.

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:35:24 +0000

And I never see mention of the “House of Zodiac”, remember that store, lower level, left side towards the back end of the mall. Tarot cards, incense, occult stuff, and other weird things!!

Michelle above asked “How do the people who ok’d this sleep at night???”

Well, they don’t live around here, were never at the old Shoppers world, just another investment…… or, the aliens finally got their ship repaired
and to cover up their leaving….. naw…

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:19:53 +0000

I grew up going to the old Shoppers world and vividly remember Jordan Marsh, Hermans, Bretts, Radio Shack, going to the “Cinema” and having lunch at Joan and Ed’s Deli (now across Rt9 in Sherwood plaza, not the same experience though). Miss the tranquility of leaving the “Real” world and entering the mall, the grass was so green! Friday night concerts, Christmas time, etc. In the late 80’s I belonged to the “Baystate Corvette Club”, we had Corvette shows in both Shoppers World and Inside the Old Natick Mall. What a trip it was to drive down the ramp into Shoppers world, of course they made us “Push” the cars into the Natick Mall as no running engines and also they required the cars batteries to be disconnected. Have to dig out the old photos of both those events…….sigh…….

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 22:06:19 +0000

If Dave (2nd respondent, natickmass.info website) or anyone else would like a picture of JM Fields I’ve got one. But I can’t find any email address on your website to send to.

By: Audrey

Audrey — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 17:10:27 +0000

I remember the ferris wheel inside Shopper’s World. I got stuck at the top once, which to a 4-year-old seemed ridiculously high. They were enclosed oval cages for ferris wheel cars, but it still scared me to death. However, the real centerpiece was the water display with the fountains. There were colored lights underneath, and I thought it was the most fascinating place on Earth. It’s a shame it’s all changed. I drove by several years ago, but the last time I was inside was 1966.

By: Marie

Marie — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:57:24 +0000

I miss that old mall, too! I worked there in 1991-92 after just moving to Framingham. Unfortunately there were almost no shoppers there at the time. Sometimes entire days would go by with no one coming into the store at all. I couldn’t understand why since it was in a great location and had a lot of decent stores.