2.12.09

CITY HALL HARDWARE

CITY HALL HARDWARE,
Was located on Washington Street, Downtown, Providence.
Was one of the first department stores in the city.
It carried everything from nuts & bolts,
to pots & pans, clothing for men & women, shoes even bicycles...
you name it!! It closed in the mid 70’s.

12 comments:

  1. I remember City Hall Hardware! If we were downtown and needed a hardware item, we went there.

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    1. Are there any Photos of the store you might share?

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    2. Looking for personal photos of City Hall Hardware (not stock Internet photos) for a story I wrote. If you have any, please reply.

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  2. My GGranfater worked there in the 40s.

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  3. My grandfather started working their as a janitor when it first opened. Throughout the years he worked his way to the top, and became the owner. When things changed in the city he closed it. He stayed home for 2 years, but became bored and began a new job. At 80 years of age he would drive from his home on the East side of Providence 6 days a week to Railroad Salvage in Ct., where he worked as a salesman for another 6 years! His name is Ben Rosenstein (RIP).

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    1. Interesting. I looked up the store name because I just bought a cast iron skillet that still has the City Hall Hardware price tag on it. If you get this reply please email me mycastiron@gmail dot Com. Thank you

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    2. I wrote a a heartwarming Christmas story about the City Hall Hardware that you may want for your archives. I may very wellhave met your grandfather, decades ago! Please e-mail if you are interested in seeing the story.

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  4. I came across a brochure that had been stamped with the hardware store's name and address. The brochure is a pristine AMERICAN FLYER TRAIN wall poster... My father lived in East Providence and bought his first train at this store.. Another flash from the past.. Thank you for allowing this post

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  5. does anyone remember Rita Tanenbaum who worked there in the 1930's or early 1940's Any info would be appreciated.

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  6. I wrote a heartwarming Christmas story about the joys of the City Hall Hardware. More later, when it is published.

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  7. My father, Roland (Rod) Desroches worked there in the 50s to early 60s. Max Segal took him under his wing and he built a great career because of Max. He came up with this marketing idea to sell TV sets--when they put the ad in the paper the screen was blank, but the promotion was that if you bought a TV he would run YOUR picture on the screen in the ad. They sold a whole bunch of tvs doing this. I guess everyone wanted their 15 minutes of fame even then. Did anyone work with my dad or Max?

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  8. My Grandfather owned the Restaurant across the street from City Hall Hardware … it was called Vesuvius Restaurant…he would have lunch and dinner for all of the Employees from the Hardware Store!

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