In true #tbt (throwback Thursday) spirit the newly published Fall Downtown Digest took a look back at Downtown Retail in the 1950’s & 60’s. Joann Ryan, an avid supporter of the Downtown Albany BID’s Sculpture in the Street program, authored a piece exploring what the streets of Downtown looked like during a very different era:
In the 1950’s and 60’s, Albany boasted an enviable and lively retail life in its Downtown business district. North and South Pearl Street, the side streets – Maiden Lane, Columbia and Pine bustled with shoppers especially Thursday evenings when stores were open until late into the evening. New York’s blue laws closed retail on Sunday in that era The Nation, newly emerged from a war mentality, resumed commercial production with gusto to meet consumers’ pent-up demand for style and personal service. Continue reading this and other great articles in the Fall Downtown Digest available online at downtownalbany.org or pick up a copy from our office at 40 N Pearl Street, Albany.
While transistor radios and girdles may no longer be on your Downtown shopping list the retail options continue to grow. From Albany’s oldest store to Downtown’s newest come experience the GOOD Life. There’s no time like the present.
See you Downtown.
JD
