Building 19 New Bedford

Good Stuff Cheap!

Way back in 1962, Jerry got fired from his job selling refrigerators at the G.E.M. store in Hingham, and as he was cleaning out his desk he came across the business card of Harry Andler. Now, Harry was they guy to call when any disaster befell you; he helped everyone he could, and his compassion and influence ran deep. Jerry called Harry, and Harry had a plan.
"I see by the papers that there was a fire in a furniture factory down in Westerly, Rhode Island," said Harry, "Now what you do is: find out the name of the insurance company, go down, check out the smokey furniture. If it’s any good, buy it. You should be able to get it for a song. Then you've got to find a place to sell it- they’re renting warehouses by the day in the Old Hingham Shipyard. Rent a truck and get the furniture there. Take an ad in the Quincy Ledger and have a sale. It’ll be my money and your time; we’ll split the profits. That should keep you going for a while."
Jerry did as he was told, and the sale was a smashing success, giving Jerry the money to pay his bills and continue his search for a new job. But pretty soon the bills started to pile up, and Jerry called Harry again.
This time there was no fire. "Read the back pages of the Sunday Globe," advised Harry, "They advertise auctions there. You can get good stuff really cheap at auctions. When you get enough, have another sale."
Again the sale was a success, and that was the way it went. It took three or four months for Jerry to figure out that he wasn't going to get a job that paid better and was more fun than following Harry’s suggestions. Soon the warehouse in the Old Hingham Shipyard was leased instead of rented by the day. It had a sign that said "Building #19" and, of course, Jerry was too cheap to take it down. It was open for two days on weekends...then three days...then seven...then Jerry found more warehouses (he called them Building #19 1/2; and Building #19 3/4).
Harry came to work in the Hingham Shipyard Building #19 (with an office and everything), and advised Jerry, "Give the customers an iron-clad 100% satisfaction or your money back guarantee, and while we’re at it, let’s guarantee the lowest prices in New England!"
"If they find any item cheaper elsewhere, we’ll give them a free bottle of Champagne AND beat that price!" said Jerry.
"Why Champagne?" asked Harry.
"'Cause nobody drinks Champagne alone," said Jerry with a wink, "and they’ll have to tell everyone how they won it!"
In five years, there were 12 Building #19s scattered all over New England, and bargain hunting would never be the same again.