WORCESTER, Mass. — The Elwood Adams Store has operated in this New England town since 1782, the year before the recognition of U.S. independence. That era will end this week as the retailer, whose heritage storefront dates to 1831, closes its doors for the last time on Friday. Mark Lannon, an assistant manager, told MassLive.com that the store’s fortunes began to change with the advent of the big box, but the explosion of online retail signaled the death knell.
Under the Cloutier family, owners since 1958, the store continued its tradition of personalized service for its customers, many of whom became familiar faces. “It is like Cheers without the alcohol,” Lannon told the Worcester Telegram, in a reference to the eponymous bar in the long-running TV series, where “everybody knows your name”.
