I lived across the street from Hearns not too many people my age remember Hearns. When we lived there it was mostly American’s not too many Puerto Ricans in that neighborhood. My mom would take us during Christmas time to see Santa. We also got a doll from Santa and my brother got a car. Good memories.
Hearn’s was a huge department store located at the corner of 3rd ave and 149st if I remember correctly it had 4 floors and a bargain basement. huge toy department and women’s clothing. it went out of business in the early 60’s it was a real kid friendly place with a great hot pretzel vender in the lobby
I remember my mother taking my sister and I to shop in Hearn’s. There was a bakery in the entrance that had the most delicious italian cookies and desserts (green pistachio feathers, pretzel shaped butter, gingerboys with chocolate in betweenstars with jelly centers, vanilla with sprinkles, and the rainbow marzipan covered in chocolate cakes!! Mom would promise to get cookies on the way out if we behaved!!!
i remember Hearns ,it had wooden floors in some areas, a big butcher shop on 149th street side that was usually very crowded , we would go down steps to the basement where there was a pet shop that had many canaries java finches and mynah birds.similar to the store on LAre you being served? On p b s
So happy to see that someone else remembers Hearns and especially the Meat Dept. or Butcher Shop. I lived on l65th St. near Boston Road and we would shop at Hearns for meats on Saturdays.
I lived in the area, in the 50’s through the 60’s. My mother actually worked in Hearn’s in the neckwear department, selling hats, gloves, scarves and the like. Hearn’s was actually and huge department store that sold clothes for the entire family. The also sold kitchenware and and domestics. My favorite area was the pet department. I remember we bought a yellow canary from there. I also enjoyed their huge Toyland Department. At the time the neighborhood was predominantly Irish, Italian and German. Hearn’s biggest competitor was Alexander’s Department Store. I miss the good old days.
Hearn’s was one of two major department stores in the South Bronx when it was still a vibrant retail hub centered on 3rd Avenue, stretching north from 149th Street. The other major retailer along 3rd Avenue was Alexander’s Department Store. The Bronx also had another major retail district in the northern section of the borough, running along Fordham Road, anchored by a Sears Department Store at Webster Avenue to the east and an Alexander’s Department Store and a Woolworth’s Variety Store near the Grand Concourse on the western end of this retail shopping district.
I remember a group of classes from PS106 in Parkchester had a field trip to Hearns Dept Store – they had a special puppet show about safety for kids – One part was about never chasing a ball into the street – they taught us a song there That I still have in my head… “Let the Ball roll… Let the ball roll… no matter where it may go; Let the ball roll, let the ball roll; It has to stop some place you know.”
Another part of the show was about not going onto thin ice. Don’t remember all the words – “Ice skating is nice skating,…….???? Never skate where the ice is thin; Thin ice will crack and you’ll fall right in, and come up with icicles under your chin; If you skate where the ice is thin”
11 comments
I lived across the street from Hearns not too many people my age remember Hearns. When we lived there it was mostly American’s not too many Puerto Ricans in that neighborhood. My mom would take us during Christmas time to see Santa. We also got a doll from Santa and my brother got a car. Good memories.
Hearn’s was a huge department store located at the corner of 3rd ave and 149st if I remember correctly it had 4 floors and a bargain basement. huge toy department and women’s clothing. it went out of business in the early 60’s it was a real kid friendly place with a great hot pretzel vender in the lobby
My Mom use to take me there to shop back in the late 70’s
I remember my mother taking my sister and I to shop in Hearn’s. There was a bakery in the entrance that had the most delicious italian cookies and desserts (green pistachio feathers, pretzel shaped butter, gingerboys with chocolate in betweenstars with jelly centers, vanilla with sprinkles, and the rainbow marzipan covered in chocolate cakes!! Mom would promise to get cookies on the way out if we behaved!!!
i remember Hearns ,it had wooden floors in some areas, a big butcher shop on 149th street side that was usually very crowded , we would go down steps to the basement where there was a pet shop that had many canaries java finches and mynah birds.similar to the store on LAre you being served? On p b s
Al Dinsmore
So happy to see that someone else remembers Hearns and especially the Meat Dept. or Butcher Shop. I lived on l65th St. near Boston Road and we would shop at Hearns for meats on Saturdays.
I lived in the area, in the 50’s through the 60’s. My mother actually worked in Hearn’s in the neckwear department, selling hats, gloves, scarves and the like. Hearn’s was actually and huge department store that sold clothes for the entire family. The also sold kitchenware and and domestics. My favorite area was the pet department. I remember we bought a yellow canary from there. I also enjoyed their huge Toyland Department. At the time the neighborhood was predominantly Irish, Italian and German. Hearn’s biggest competitor was Alexander’s Department Store. I miss the good old days.
Hearn’s was one of two major department stores in the South Bronx when it was still a vibrant retail hub centered on 3rd Avenue, stretching north from 149th Street. The other major retailer along 3rd Avenue was Alexander’s Department Store. The Bronx also had another major retail district in the northern section of the borough, running along Fordham Road, anchored by a Sears Department Store at Webster Avenue to the east and an Alexander’s Department Store and a Woolworth’s Variety Store near the Grand Concourse on the western end of this retail shopping district.
Oops, there should be no apostrophe between the letters “n” and “s” in the spelling of Hearns above.
I remember going to Hearns as a child, they sold clothes and food. It was one of my favorite stores along with Alexander’s which closed as well!
I remember a group of classes from PS106 in Parkchester had a field trip to Hearns Dept Store – they had a special puppet show about safety for kids – One part was about never chasing a ball into the street – they taught us a song there That I still have in my head… “Let the Ball roll… Let the ball roll… no matter where it may go; Let the ball roll, let the ball roll; It has to stop some place you know.”
Another part of the show was about not going onto thin ice. Don’t remember all the words – “Ice skating is nice skating,…….???? Never skate where the ice is thin; Thin ice will crack and you’ll fall right in, and come up with icicles under your chin; If you skate where the ice is thin”