January 15, 2024 By Geri Duff
This is the first location of Building 19 in the Hingham Shipyard. Taking the number of the building as the store name in 1964 Jerry Ellis and Harry Andler eventually had a chain of 13 stores selling items from overstocks, fire sales, customs seizures and bankruptcy sales. Overseas manufacturing and better fire protection of warehouses were two of several factors that led to their own declaration of bankruptcy in 2013. During its heyday Building 19 provided “good stuff cheap” in New England while poking fun at themselves for being so cheap. Photograph by Geri Duff.
I worked there summers around 1969/70 and part time other times of the year. At one time there were wild cats in the back rooms and those cats were viscous. They did keep down the rat problem before they called in the cat catchers.