Spag's

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), offering plastic shopping bags (late 1996), and shopping carts (introduced in 1998).HistoryAnthony "Spag" Borgatti 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 Workshop 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 building 19 and demolish the building to make way for an affordable housing project.