Spag's
Encyclopedia
Spag's was, from 1934 to 2004, a discount department store on Route 9 in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
. The store was considered an early pioneer of discount retailing and was notable for its longtime resistance to accepting charge cards (until 1992) and offering plastic shopping bags (late 1996) and shopping carts (introduced in 1998).
and The Victory Garden
on PBS local station WGBH
.
A second Spag's store operated from late 1999 until the end of 2001 in Springfield, Massachusetts
.
When Spag died in 1996, his daughters took over until 2002, when they sold it to Building 19
.
The location became Spag's 19, and in September 2004 Building 19 owner Jerry Ellis said the store was not profitable in its current format. Spag's merchandise and operations were converted to Building 19's format. October 3, 2004 was the last day of business for Spag's. For much of its lifecycle, the roof of the main building had the name "SPAGS" written across the east roof, but this was painted over in 2005. Other businesses surrounding Spag's, including The Ground Round
family-style restaurant, have since closed due to lack of business. In June 2007 tentative plans were announced to close Spags 19 and demolish the building to make way for an affordable housing project.
because that is what Spag wore.
The Tannoy in the store was legendary - customers from the 1980s and 90s will still remember "Bucky, line 4" in a Worcester accent, and announcements of large consignments of unusual goods.
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 31,640 people, 12,366 households, and 8,693 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 12,696 housing units at an average density of...
. The store was considered an early pioneer of discount retailing and was notable for its longtime resistance to accepting charge cards (until 1992) and offering plastic shopping bags (late 1996) and shopping carts (introduced in 1998).
History
Anthony "Spag" Borgatti (1916–1996) opened Shrewsbury Battery and Tire Service in 1934. In 1939 the store expanded and the name was changed to Spag's Hardware Supply. Spag's was a local sponsor of the broadcast of The New Yankee WorkshopThe New Yankee Workshop
The New Yankee Workshop was a woodworking program produced by WGBH Boston, which aired on PBS. Created in 1989 by Russell Morash, the program was hosted by Norm Abram, a regular fixture on Morash's This Old House...
and The Victory Garden
The Victory Garden (TV series)
The Victory Garden is an American public television program about gardening and other outdoor activities, produced by station WGBH in Boston, Massachusetts, and distributed by PBS...
on PBS local station WGBH
WGBH-TV
WGBH-TV, channel 2, is a non-commercial educational public television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. WGBH-TV is a member station of the Public Broadcasting Service , and produces more than two-thirds of PBS's national prime time television programming...
.
A second Spag's store operated from late 1999 until the end of 2001 in Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
.
When Spag died in 1996, his daughters took over until 2002, when they sold it to Building 19
Building 19
Building #19 is a chain of discount stores in New England. The store is well-known throughout New England for selling items at drastically discounted prices, although the items are oftentimes factory irregulars or damaged in some other way...
.
The location became Spag's 19, and in September 2004 Building 19 owner Jerry Ellis said the store was not profitable in its current format. Spag's merchandise and operations were converted to Building 19's format. October 3, 2004 was the last day of business for Spag's. For much of its lifecycle, the roof of the main building had the name "SPAGS" written across the east roof, but this was painted over in 2005. Other businesses surrounding Spag's, including The Ground Round
Ground Round
Ground Round Grill & Bar, an American casual dining restaurant, was founded in 1969 by Howard Johnson's. As of January 17, 2010 Ground Round is owned by Independent Owners Cooperative, LLC, a group of 30 franchisee owners. Independent Owners Cooperative, LLC is located in Freeport, Maine...
family-style restaurant, have since closed due to lack of business. In June 2007 tentative plans were announced to close Spags 19 and demolish the building to make way for an affordable housing project.
The campus
Spag's was originally one central building, later named "the warehouse" when the store opened the Spag's Sports Shop—featuring sports, hunting, and fishing equipment—and the Spag's Olde School House, which contained household tools and items such as pencils, nursing wear, and photography accessories. The Olde School House was closed for storage after being sold to Building 19 but was reopened for a short while in 2003, before being closed permanently. The Sports Shop closed in 2004 after the store officially became Building 19. The only remaining building, other than the main building (which saw renovations in the mid 1990s), is the Garden Shop, which sits adjacent to the main building.Closed on Sundays
Reflecting the Borgatti family's religious values, the store was not open on Sunday. This policy changed in the 1990s.Cash only
A key to the success of the original operation was Spag's use of cash. The store did not accept credit cards, and Mr. Borgatti was able to purchase truckloads of inventory at low prices by offering immediate payment in cash. Much of the inventory was stored in the delivery trailers, parked on the Spag's lot.Shopper culture
The term "Spag's mentality" was coined to describe the thrifty mindset found among the store's customers. Depending on the context it is used in, it can carry a positive or negative connotation. One example of the Spag's mentality is the sheer number of shoppers that would visit for the store's annual spring tomato seedling giveaway. Beginning in 1957, the store would give 25 tomato seedlings to visitors; in 1985, the store gave away one million seedlings. The prices of many goods at Spag's were written on them in indelible black Magic Marker, and another aspect of the Spag's mentality was to display the handwritten price proudly, as proof of one's resourcefulness as a shopper.Brand loyalty
Spag's often carried only one or two brands of a particular product, and, because of the store's popularity in New England and central Massachusetts, brands that are not market leaders in other areas of the country are household brands in the Spag's districts. Such is the case with Ban Deodorant and Good as Gold Coffee.Corporate structure
With the creation of Spag's Supply, Inc, in 1966, "Mrs. Spag" Olive Borgatti became president of the company, Spag the treasurer. She served as the company's president until her death in 1990. Spag assumed the position of president briefly before retiring the position to his daughter, Carol Borgatti Cullen, who served as the company president until shortly before the store's sale to Building 19. The other Borgatti daughters, Jean M. Borgatti and Sandra Borgatti Travinski, also served in upper management positions for Spag's.Logos and slogans
The logo was a cowboy hatCowboy hat
The cowboy hat is a high-crowned, wide-brimmed hat best known as the defining piece of attire for the North American cowboy. Today it is worn by many people, and is particularly associated with ranch workers in the western and southern United States, western Canada and northern Mexico, with...
because that is what Spag wore.
- The Home of Spagtacular Savings
- No Bags at Spag's
- Where Shopping is an Adventure
- Where Your Cash Buys More
- Spag's has no bags
The Tannoy in the store was legendary - customers from the 1980s and 90s will still remember "Bucky, line 4" in a Worcester accent, and announcements of large consignments of unusual goods.
Further reading
- Gallese, Liz Roman. "The Cheese at Spag's Is Next to the Rugs — Over by the Golf Balls". Wall Street Journal, January 28, 1983, p. 1
- Nickerson, Catherine and Elsa Borgatti Tivnan. Spag: An American Business Legend. 1999. ISBN 1886284547
External links
- Spag's Tribute Site
- Spags.com in the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
- Spag's memories in the Gone But Not Forgotten site, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
- Audio interview of Building 19 owner Jerry Ellis by WBZ Radio's Anthony Silva