#20

Pizza Hut at South Plaza on Grafton Street

Calling all bookworms!

Back in the 80s, at elementary schools throughout the city, the Worcester Public School system had a reading program called Bookworms. Every book a student read would go towards earning that student a personal pan pizza at Pizza Hut.

The one that doesn't exist now, where Building #19 used to be on Grafton Street, was quite the place. If you lived on Grafton Hill, you saw all your friends there drinking soda from the same red plastic cup you were.

#19

Little Theater

The sign still hangs outside and the City Council has recently made a push to look into salvaging and restoring it.

A haven for field trips and Saturday afternoon performances, the Little Theater held 500 people.

#18

Webster Square Cinema

A twin-cinema (or two screens), Webster Square Cinema is now home to Sun N' Sound. How it existed with such a small amount of parking available is baffling. 

#17

Caldor

Caldor screams retail nostalgia. 

Worcester kids born in the 80s also witnessed it become Ames...and then close again.

#16

Showcase Cinema Downtown

Before Showcase North Cinemas opened, this place was the epi-center of movie going in Worcester. Compared to Webster Square and White City, this place was luxurious. It was an old theater with an enormous screen and its lobby was pristine...for a while.

It's now home to the highly successful Hanover Theatre.

#15

Zayre

Thanks to T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, Zayre came and went rather quickly in Worcester. It made its home at Beaver Brook. 

#14

ShBoom's

No we are not talking about that ShBoom's they put under a parking garage (which is now home to Mezcal). We are talking about the Shbooms that used be on Main Street (now where the new Worcester courthouse is). 

This is the Shboom's where women danced on top of a car that was a DJ booth, and the Shboom's where every Sweet 16 ever thrown in Worcester was held. 

And where 21 and under nights was an actual thing.

#13

McDonald's Playland on Grafton Street

Your timeouts were in the jail of the Hamburglar. And you had two options with your Happy Meal: Hamburger or Cheeseburger.

#12

Ricky's Putt Stop

An indoor mini-golf course on James Street was the host of many birthday parties. Stop the fun. 

#11

Abdow's Big Boy

What kid could resist the Grilled Cheese and Fries? It was $1.99 so the parents loved it too.

Slosh it all down with a giant chocolate milk and call it a day.

Hit up the gumball machine on the way out.

Now it's home to Moe's.

#10

White City Cinemas

Red shag carpet as far as the eye can see. And two floors!

The blue and white striped building across the bridge in Shrewsbury was the second largest movie theater in the area for a long time. 

However, like the others, Showcase North opened up and took them all down. This one lasted the longest and closed in the late 1990s.

They knocked it down and put a Jimmy's Tavern in and a Thai place.

#9

The Ground Round

This place didn't close too long ago. And it was a great 1-2 punch with White City Cinemas across the street.

On your birthday, your meal cost your height in inches.

Watch out for the clowns though.

#8

Dream Machine at Worcester Galleria

What kid from the 80s didn't go to school with at least one Dream Machine token? The place was addicting. 

#7

Millbury Amusements

Now home to Rt 146, MIllbury Amusements had batting cages, bumper cars and a driving range.

You can leave your car there overnight now to carpool with co-workers.

#6

Worcester Galleria/Common Outlets

A street runs through where the Fashion Outlets used to be. This was the best hang out place in the city. And that's what probably led to its downfall. All the kids were there, but none of them had any money on them.

#5

Playland on Stafford Street

Formerly located on Stafford Street, this was the place to have your birthday party in elementary school. It was like Chuck E Cheese, but without the rules...and the giant mouse.

#4

Whalom Park

That roller coaster was a little wobbly, but it was totally worth it to have an amusement park so close.

Just shoot up I-190 North and you'll be there in 45 or less. 

#3

Discovery Zone

Thanks a lot, Trader Joe's. DZ was better than Chuck E Cheese and Playland combined. 

#2

Spag's

Spag's invented discounted pricing. And for the longest time, they didn't even give you bags for what you bought. But they had literally everything you could possibly need all under a few roofs. 

#1

Maurice the Pants Man

Maurcie the Pants Man...he's got more pants. Much more! Clothes for guys, clothes for girls...and kids stuff too!

The sidewalk sales were absolutely amazing. And if you didn't get your Starter jacket here, you were getting ripped off elsewhere.