Framingham Views

Take a look at the signs on the front of these stores in Irving Square, circa 1958. Not painted banners, they were an important way business would attract customers. Pay particular attention to the Kay Jewelers. Large heavy signs, with neon lights and lots of glamour, people knew this was a legitimate business. Today, take a look, across the square and down the street, businessmen are trying to revive the downtown. Presentation is the first thing they should look at. Startups have so little money today, they can’t afford the advertising. And that’s part of the reason they fail.

You will also notice the gold decals on the windows above street level. One downside to the improvements along the stretch of Concord St. above what used to be Woolworths, and Penny’s, is the amatuerish window decor.  When residential takes it’s place, I wonder how it might look, with all sorts of curtains, and shades, etc. Maybe tinted glass to look uniform from the street would look better.