Avery's Electronics in Arlington, Mass.

Well before Best Buy and all the big box stores -- and a time when a local electronics store could peacefully co-exist with Lechmere Sales -- Avery's Electronics in Arlington, Mass. was the place to go for radios, televisions, cassette recorders, eight track players, etc. You name it, they had it within the store's modest square footage... Zenith, Hitachi, RCA, Magnavox, General Electric, Emerson, all the name brands.

Avery's didn't have the high tech stereo sheen of Tweeter nor the standardized chain store presence of Radio Shack but what they did possess was a genuine, authentic neighborhood store presence that proved to be just as important as the products they sold. I remember a humble and kind long-time employee named Mr. Hatch who, like all other employees at Avery's, would go out of his way to educate the customer on products and take the time to get to know those who entered the store. 

This Arlington Heights store also gained a fine reputation for repairs and selling parts and supplies. They knew their stuff and continuously rolled up their sleeves to get down to work for us, the customer!

No pressure, no hype, no signing your life away to buy some batteries, none of that dreaded "I'm cooler than all of you" type attitude -- it was almost like one neighbor helping out another.  Come to think of it, Mr. Hatch and his family lived a few blocks from where I grew up!

Many modern day electronic stores have music blaring or some combination of loud sounds that collectively add up to a source of irritation. Avery's seemed more quiet and gentle where the only sounds going on were testing a product and friendly conversation between staff and customers. 

I remember my dad buying me a short wave radio at Avery's. I think it might have been a Grundig. That radio took me all over the world but, ultimately, at the end of the day I would always come home to the embrace of a warm, close-knit community like Arlington and stores like Avery's that were part of that community-based fabric. 

Plus, Avery's was located right next to the now-closed Nicola Pizza. What a great combination -- buying something at Avery's and then stopping at Nicola to bring back home some huge slices of delicious Italian-style pizza!

I am not sure when Avery's closed or what took it over. Additionally, there's little to be found on the Internet about Avery's which seems strange because it was one of the most popular, well-established businesses in Arlington for decades. 

If you have special memories of Avery's, please comment in the box below and we'll build a collection of stories, memories and anecdotes of this special local business that once graced Arlington!