Boston Courant Resize

FEBRUARY 6, 2009
The Boston Courant
DOWNTOWN
‘Hospital’ Owner Has
Seen Changing Times
11
PHOTOS: NINA COOLIDGE
Wine & Good Spirits
PHOTO: GEORGINA COOLIDGE
The Downtown Crossing Partnership sponsored the second annual Downtown
Crossing Wine Crawl on February 4. Attendees enjoyed wine and appetizers at
neighborhood restaurants.
Norm Rubin
by Georgina Coolidge
Courant News Writer
For 50 years, Norm Rubin has watched
through his store window as Downtown
Crossing has undergone dramatic changes.
When Rubin opened his business, The
Watch Hospital, in 1958 at 40 Bromfield
Street, the area was filled with many other
repair shops. People working in the
Financial District would stop by his shop
to have a watchband repaired or a battery
replaced.
Today, Rubin still offers those services,
but he said his clientele has expanded as
the neighborhood dynamic has changed
over the years.
“The traffic that we get, we deal with a
lot of corporations right in downtown
Boston, law schools and colleges,” Rubin
said. The proliferation of college dormitories and buildings in the area since The
Watch Hospital first opened has broadened
the store’s consumer base, he added.
“I think the mayor has done a terrific job
providing more security for the area and
people are more likely to stay later in
downtown,” Rubin noted.
About 75 or 80 percent of his business is
service and repairs, Rubin said, with only a
small amount of retail sales. Rubin said
this decline in retail is another change he
has seen over the past 15 years or so. The
Watch Hospital has been an authorized
Timex service center since the store first
opened.
In addition to more students and young
people in the area, Rubin said he has seen
the residential makeup of Downtown
Crossing change significantly.
“When we first opened, [Downtown
Crossing] was all businesses and no residential at all,” Rubin noted. He thinks the
planned developments such as One
Bromfield Street will draw even more residents into the area and continue to help his
business.
Recently, Rubin worked with the
Downtown Crossing Partnership (DCP)
and the Department of Neighborhood
Development (DND) to create a new logo
and signage for The Watch Hospital.
“The Downtown Crossing Partnership
has been very helpful in promoting the
business,” he said.
Rubin, who learned his trade at night
school, said he loves the hands-on aspect
of the business the most.
“At age 73, I love it as much as when I
was 20,” he said.
Call to advertise (617) 267-2700
February 12th & 13th
Design a Valentine for your favorite Boston Zipcar, bring
it to Downtown Crossing at the corner of Washington and Summer
Streets and receive $10 in Zipcar driving credit. Best Valentine will win $100 in
Zipcar driving credit! www.zipcar.com/boston/find-cars
COUNTDOWN TO
VALENTINE’S DAY
Count the candy hearts at the following
jewelers. Best guess (at that jeweler) wins
a $50 gift certificate. Be lucky and shop til
your heart’s content from February 9-13!
44 SCHOOL ST
Skylight Jewelers
100 SUMMER ST
Long’s
283 WASHINGTON ST
Ultra Diamonds
429 WASHINGTON ST
The E.B. Horn Company
333 WASHINGTON ST
Nazzaro Jewelery 2nd floor
Suzanne Dines, Pearl Specialist 5th floor
Barmakian Jewelers 7th floor
CITY OF BOSTON
387 WASHINGTON ST
Thomas M. Menino
th
De Scenza Diamonds 6 floor
Mayor
th
Alden Galleries 8 foor
Downtown Crossing
Economic Improvement Initiative
Joseph Gann Jewelers 4th floor
Hefez & Sons Jewelers 7th floor
downtowncrossing.org