Spag's

Spag's Supply, Inc.
Company type	Private
Industry	Retail (discount department store)
Founded	1934
Founder	Anthony "Spag" Borgatti
Defunct	2004
Fate	Sold to Building 19; rebranded and eventually closed
Headquarters	Shrewsbury, United States
Area served	Central Massachusetts, New England
Key people	Anthony "Spag" Borgatti (founder), Olive Borgatti (president until 1990), Carol Borgatti Cullen (president until sale)
Products	Discount department store goods

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Spag's Supply, Inc. was a discount department store located along Route 9 in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Recognized as one of the early innovators in discount retailing, the store was distinguished by its prolonged reluctance to accept credit cards until 1992, its late introduction of plastic shopping bags in 1996, and finally adopting shopping carts only in 1998. Due to its iconic presence within Central Massachusetts, the term “spags” has entered the local vernacular as slang for “various goods purchased at bargain prices,” similar to how “whiz” in Westborough refers to hobby shops hosting tabletop gaming events, and how “tupperware” is commonly used to describe any plastic or sometimes glass food storage containers regardless of brand.Template:Fix/category^{[citation needed]}

History

Anthony "Spag" Borgatti (1916–1996) founded Shrewsbury Battery and Tire Service in 1934. By 1939, the business expanded and was renamed Spag's Hardware Supply. The store also served as a local sponsor for PBS programs such as The New Yankee Workshop and The Victory Garden broadcast on WGBH.

Spag's was famously associated with the motto "No Bags At Spags," reflecting the policy that customers either brought their own bags or carried purchases by hand.Template:Fix/category^{[citation needed]}

A second location operated from late 1999 until closing at the end of 2001 in Springfield, Massachusetts. This expansion attempted to replicate Spag's discount retail success beyond Central Massachusetts but was ultimately unsuccessful.

Following Spag’s passing in 1996, his daughters assumed management until selling the company to Building 19 in 2002. The Shrewsbury store was rebranded as Spag's 19; however, by September 2004, Building 19’s owner Jerry Ellis announced that the store was no longer profitable under its existing format. Consequently, Spag's inventory and operations were transitioned into Building 19’s retail style. The final day of business for Spag's was October 3, 2004. For much of its history, the main building’s east-facing roof prominently displayed “SPAGS,” which was painted over in 2005.

Neighboring establishments, including the family-style restaurant Ground Round, also closed due to declining patronage. In June 2007, preliminary plans were revealed to close Building 19 and demolish the site to develop affordable housing.

Demolition of the former Spag's premises commenced on January 11, 2016. The redevelopment plan included constructing 250 apartments, 13 townhouse units, and approximately 80,000 square feet (7,400 m²) of retail space anchored by a 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m²) Whole Foods Market.Template:Update needed

Tributes

On June 28, 2012, the ILS-29 Instrument Approach Procedure at Worcester Regional Airport was updated to recognize the significant impact that Spag and Olive Borgatti had on aviation in Worcester. The "Initial Approach Fix," positioned just south of the former store site, was renamed from PUMPP to SPAGS.

The campus

Initially, Spag's operated out of a single main building, which later became known as "the warehouse" when the Spag's Sports Shop opened—offering equipment for sports, hunting, and fishing. Additionally, the Spag's Olde School House housed household tools and various items such as pencils, nursing apparel, and photography supplies. After being sold to Building 19, the Olde School House was closed and repurposed for storage but briefly reopened in 2003 before shutting down permanently. The Sports Shop ceased operations in 2004 when the store transitioned fully into Building 19. Aside from the main building—which underwent renovations in the mid-1990s—the Garden Shop remains as the only other structure next to it.

Closed on Sundays

In line with the Borgatti family’s religious convictions, the store originally remained closed on Sundays. This policy was revised starting November 1, 1992.

Cash only

A crucial element behind Spag's early success was its cash-only policy. The store did not accept credit cards, allowing Mr. Borgatti to buy large quantities of inventory at discounted prices by paying immediately in cash. Much of this stock was stored in delivery trailers parked on-site.

Shopper culture

The phrase "Spag's mentality" emerged to characterize the frugal attitude common among the store’s patrons. Depending on usage, it can imply either a commendable or critical viewpoint. A notable illustration of this mentality was evident during the store’s annual spring tomato seedling giveaway. Starting in 1957, customers received 25 tomato seedlings each; by 1985, one million seedlings had been distributed. Many products at Spag's bore prices written in permanent black marker, and shoppers often regarded displaying these handwritten price tags as a badge of their savvy purchasing skills.

Brand allegiance

Spag's typically stocked only a limited selection of one or two brands for each product category. Due to the store's strong presence throughout New England and central Massachusetts, certain brands that were not dominant in other regions of the United States became well-known household names within Spag's market areas. Examples include Ban Deodorant and Good as Gold Coffee.

Organizational framework

When Spag's Supply, Inc. was established in 1966, Olive Borgatti, known as "Mrs. Spag," took on the role of company president, while Spag served as treasurer. She maintained her presidency until her passing in 1990. Following this, Spag briefly assumed the presidency before passing leadership to his daughter, Carol Borgatti Cullen, who remained president until shortly before the business was sold to Building 19. Two other Borgatti daughters, Jean M. Borgatti and Sandra Borgatti Travinski, also held senior management roles within the company.

In popular media

Early in the film The Place Beyond the Pines, the character portrayed by Ryan Gosling wears a Spag's T-shirt inside out. The shirt features an image of Anthony "Spag" Borgatti donning his trademark cowboy hat beneath the store’s name.

References

External links

Archived Spags.com via Internet Archive
Memories of Spag's on Gone But Not Forgotten, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Audio interview with Building 19 owner Jerry Ellis conducted by WBZ Radio’s Anthony Silva

Photographs