Remembering the Family Store: Downtown Stamford, CT ca. 1940 - 1965

The Jewish Historical Society of Fairfield County in Connecticut is producing a documentary featuring family stores in Stamford, Connecticut from their peak years as the center of downtown business through the early years of urban redevelopment and its impact. Downtown businesses on Pacific Street, Atlantic Street, Main Street and Bedford Street were predominantly family owned. The shop owners knew their patrons personally and served a diverse cultural community. Usually the whole family was involved together in operating the business. There were bakeries, hardware/paint stores, shoe stores, stationery stores, fabric stores, jewelry stores, pharmacies, meat/fish markets, department stores, delicatessens/diners, and furniture stores to list only a few of the many businesses featured in the documentary.
The president of The Jewish Historical Society of Fairfield County (JHSFC), Elissa Kaplan, begins the presentation with the background of how the documentary got started. The impetus for the documentary began with a JHSFC member's collection of old downtown store photos. Lester Sharlach created a slideshow that was shown to many community groups. It was very nostalgic for many of the viewers. A city grant was procured to produce a documentary. This UA-cam video is a presentation revealing the making of the documentary, a behind the scenes story as the film is still in production under the skilled, creative direction of Marge Costa of Aries Production LLC. Marge and her production staff have conducted many engaging interviews with family store owners and family members, which bring those bygone days to life. In the presentation, you’ll meet the co-chairs of the committee, Lester Sharlach and Gail G. Trell. Steve Karp, the scriptwriter and narrator, is introduced to discuss his involvement. He is the famous founder and producing director of Stamford Theater Works (STW) and his film-making background adds to the rich quality of “Remembering the Family Store.”
At the conclusion of the discussion, the best part of the presentation is the 3-minute trailer, introduced by Marge Costa, giving the viewer a hint of the story that needs to be told about the family store.

[@Zickcermacity]

Sal DeMott! Thanks to you and Ben for taking car of my cars' alignments all those years. Happy retirement Sal. Your protege Luis rocks on over at Newfield Service center on Camp Avenue!

[@vitodanelli]

Thank you. I have tears in my eyes. I remember all those stores.

[@Zickcermacity]

26:37

[@doreentesta4679]

Great seeing all these old family stores and hearing their stories. It definitely brought back great memories of a wonderful time and a wonderful city. Hopefully in the next round of photos you’ll be able to show my parents store, Best Made Sleep Shop which was established in 1940 in Stamford.

[@bjoyful2185]

Great work! I remember all the stores. 🥰

[@Zickcermacity]

27:14

[@barbarasilver4144]

Hi from Chapel Hill, NC

[@lexybernard2461]

This is horrible - an old woman just reading page after page - never once even looks up.