I'm visiting a market today that holds a special place in my heart and life story. It is the neighborhood Brattle Street Market that sits in the center of my extended childhood neighborhood in a northern corner fo the city of Worcester, Massachusetts.
My first memories of the Brattle Street Market were memories of running down to the store to buy my mom a candy bar. When I was about eight years old, in late afternoons, my tired mom would relax for a few minutes. While relaxing she would call me and ask me to run down to the market to buy her a candy bar. Of course she gave me the money to buy some candy for myself and my many siblings as well. I joyfully ran to and from the market and delivered the sweet treat to mom who was generally surrounded by little ones of all ages.
Later, the Brattle Street market was the place where I met my friends Patty, Nancy, and Maureen everyday after school. We'd meet on the stoop outside the market and then go inside to buy a treat. I remember that lollipops were a favorite treat back then. We did this for years.
As I grew older, my visits to the market became less. Generally I'd stop in to get a few missing groceries for my parents. And now, my parents who still live up the street from the market stop to buy a sandwich, lottery tickets, milk or other small items. When I visit my parents today, I'll stop in and pick up Italian grinders (subs/sandwiches).
As I think about the role this market has played in the neighborhood, I'm wondering what other memories my former neighbors have about this landmark. I'm also realizing that one reason why I enjoy the Netflix show Kimmy's Convenience so much is that it's a show about a neighborhood market and the many neighborhood tales that occur in a place like that.
Wouldn't it be interesting to look at American life through the lens of the neighborhood market--what picture would that paint, what stories would emerge? If you have a neighborhood market memory or story, please share. I'm curious about this.