Old School Southie: Jones’ Department Store
A trip down memory lane
Back in my heyday—I’m taking the 1980s and 90s—Jones’ Department Store was THE place for picking up the latest fashion trends. Adidas Super Stars, Champion Sweatshirts, and Girbaud Jeans (aka compliments), to name a few. Style that up with a turtleneck and a gold rope chain worn over the Champion crewneck, and you were good to go hang on the corner on Saturday night. Ah, the good old days.
Recently, we came across this gem. A very old Jones’ ad.
This “department” store was located at K and East Broadway and was in business until the early 2000s. Check out the selection! Nightgowns, dungarees (my dad still refers to jeans as dungarees, and I love them), and potato ricer – all in one spot right here in the neighborhood. You didn’t have to venture to South Bay to Target for one-stop stopping. You just walked a few blocks.
And the pricing. Let’s bring that back too.
Here’s a South Boston Little League Team from way back when with Jones’ as the sponsor!
We miss neighborhood spots like Jones’, fondly referred to as Jonesies.
Which other old school shops and boutiques do you miss?
Maureen Dahill is the founder of Caught in Media. Once a longtime wardrobe and prop stylist for brands such as Rue La La, TJ Max & Hasbro, she is a devoted lover of vintage clothing, Martini Mondays, Castle Island, AND a 4th generation South Boston native. Mother of three, married to Peter G.
IA restaurant miss my Saturday night pizza side of fries and a pitcher of Lite beer while listening to music I play from my booth.
Woolworth, Robels, Gorins, Sands, Bay View men’s ( Izod shirt with the collar UP)
Let’s not forget Pobers! There wasn’t a new baby born that didn’t have a Pobers baby banner or pillow with the name embroidered on it. If you couldn’t afford Pobers, Kay’s was the place for ladies wear. Those were the days!
I miss them all. Southie, as us real Southie people call it is dead and gone and never coming back. It used to be quite a neighborhood back in the day. Everybody knew everybody and on the warm summer nights we would all come out and sit on our front stoops and talk with each other. You wouldn’t dare do it now, you might get mugged or murdered. It’s a shame that bussing and the tall ships come into Southie. That was the beginning of the end of good old Southie.
Slocums, Perry’s Fish Market, The Italian American (IA), Nate’s market at N&8th, Hayden’s Bakery, and of course the underage and after hours six packs at the they shall not be named bars on West Broadway. Lest we forget, Ho Toy on Old Colony before it was taken for the Braintree Line. Jimbos, on Northern Ave opposite Jimmy’s, which was absolutely great affordable seafood and a great bar, with trains running overhead with tracks mounted on plexiglass.