Sunday, September 25, 2011

Building's Past

Next to the One City Center parking garage sits the former home of the A. H. Benoit Company, a men's clothing store. At one time, the company had clothing stores in Westbrook, Biddeford, Lewiston, Brunswick, Ogunquit and here in Portland. In 1915 they were the largest clothing stores in Maine. They had a section set aside just for young men called Prep Hall, as I remember with upscale clothing with prices to match. I never remember buying anything there, but I did like to window shop. During my collegiate years, my friend Peter worked there, and I often stopped by while on vacation to catchup with his comings and goings. He had great stories of the latest screw ups by the manager or young ladies who had ventured by. Now, buddy Paul's parents bought all his Christmas gifts at the Westbrook store(The Men's Shop), and usually one night later, we were there returning all his latest fashions for cold, hard cash. I always thought that something wasn't quite right with this, but he rationalized it this way: "I don't need the preppy clothes; I need the money!" For him, it was all about the Benjamins, even back then. HoHoHo! Merry Christmas!

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18 comments:

  1. Sharon CreechSeptember 25, 2011 at 8:06 AM

    We were always so excited if we got new clothing of any kind that we would never have thought of returning it. Nice that you capture the history of a store.

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  2. PerthDailyPhotoSeptember 25, 2011 at 9:17 AM

    Great story Birdman, my sister to this day takes nearly everything she buys back the next day, not for the money haha! but because she refuses to try on in store and is under the delusion that she's a size 12 when she's...not!!

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  3. HalcyonSeptember 25, 2011 at 9:26 AM

    I think it's a little sad to return gifts. But I can understand students may need the cash more. Thanks for your story. :)

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  4. Yogi♪♪♪September 25, 2011 at 9:51 AM

    Not too many prep stores around these days. Great story.

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  5. LowellSeptember 25, 2011 at 9:58 AM

    Funny story. I wonder if his parents knew?

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  6. JackSeptember 25, 2011 at 10:01 AM

    Nicely composed photo, Birdman, with the bland and the bright next to one another and with the street leading to them. (I still wear preppy stuff, but more on the side of golf shirts these days.)

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  7. Small City ScenesSeptember 25, 2011 at 10:14 AM

    Funny story. Parents are sometimes clueless. MB

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  8. Luis GomezSeptember 25, 2011 at 10:17 AM

    Great story Birdman!

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  9. TexWisGirlSeptember 25, 2011 at 10:24 AM

    too funny. a head for business. at least the clothes did not sit unworn. :)

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  10. Folkways Note BookSeptember 25, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    Birdman -- I take it that the clothing store no longer is in business -- probably replaced by Walmart. The store of my youth was the J.L. Hudson Company in Detroit MI which had 14 glorious floors all staged beautifully. Just fun to visit. And I did many times. Now torn down. -- barbara

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  11. SharonSeptember 25, 2011 at 12:05 PM

    Love that building. It must have been fun to window shot there.

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  12. RandySeptember 25, 2011 at 12:27 PM

    I do prefer the older buildings to the new. This must have been something in those days.

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  13. T. BecqueSeptember 25, 2011 at 1:11 PM

    Somehow they both work together though...for me at least.

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  14. Kae LaniSeptember 25, 2011 at 4:41 PM

    I love your photography and I really enjoy the short paragraph you give to expound upon the background of each picture. You also engage your readers too, which is super fun :D

    Keep up the awesome

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  15. john bainSeptember 25, 2011 at 7:28 PM

    I don't know what preppy clothes are. Something to do with school maybe?

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  16. MichelleSeptember 25, 2011 at 7:53 PM

    I think I would not have returned those clothes!

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  17. CloudiaSeptember 25, 2011 at 9:58 PM

    wise to prefer the money than display :-)


    Warm Aloha from Waikiki;

    Comfort Spiral


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  18. VirginiaSeptember 25, 2011 at 11:23 PM

    I love your stories Bird!!!
    V

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