On Franklin between Arch & Washington was a small sitting area owned by the old Filene's that was called Shoppers Park. It had shade trees in large concrete planters with benches attached. Torn down when Filene's annex building was demolished

And that's not the only sign still pointing Downtown Crossing T riders to something that no longer exists. At the other end of the Forest Hills platform on the Orange Line is a marker to the failed Lafayette Place mall:

ArchBoston discussion on Lafayette Place.

Oak Escalator

By moxie on Sun, 03/09/2014 - 5:39pm.

It wasn't terribly long ago that there was an oaken (as in WOODEN) escalator near the back door to Jordan Marsh... Oh, wait. I mean Macy's....

Those things were horrible

By adamg on Sun, 03/09/2014 - 5:54pm.

They looked kind of cool, but even as somebody who doesn't wear heels, I never liked them.

My brother was going up that

By Patricia on Mon, 03/10/2014 - 9:44am.

My brother was going up that escalator once and noticed the woman in front of him heel got caught in the wooden steps. It was all he could do to wrestle it free from the moving escalator.
Riding up that escalator was a memorable experience, to say the least.

wooden escalator

By deirdre murphy on Mon, 03/10/2014 - 10:27am.

I loved that escalator! It looked so dangerous and it was so narrow. Would gladly eat any children not paying attention. Sort of get nostalgic for the lurking dangers of pre ADA days

That escalator

By Waquiot on Mon, 03/10/2014 - 8:08pm.

Made me afraid of escalators. I eventually got over the fear, and I saw this and tried to explain the escalator to my wife. I was the oldest in the world when it was retired. The metal things at the top- it was like it was built to hurt you.

Once Millenium Tower goes up

By anon on Sun, 03/09/2014 - 6:17pm.

Once Millenium Tower goes up there will be a shooper's park once again!

Food court

By Markk02474 on Sun, 03/09/2014 - 6:17pm.

The spots for weary shoppers to rest and reflect are now food courts and eateries. No profit in them sitting about a park!

When was the last time you were actually in Downtown Crossing?

By adamg on Sun, 03/09/2014 - 6:49pm.

There's a fairly large seating area right down the street in front of the ~~Boston Five~~ ~~Borders~~ Walgreens at the Irish Famine memorial. And during warm/warmish weather, there are tables and chairs on Summer Street that anybody can use.

Ah yes, "Shopper's Park"

By anon on Sun, 03/09/2014 - 7:36pm.

Ah yes, "Shopper's Park", another of those grand dreams when Downtown Crossing was first invented back in the late 70s. Just like the flower pots full of fresh flowers that hung from streetlights and that glass awning type thing that ran partway down the side of Washington Street where Barnes & Noble was. In the end, before the Filene's building was demolished, "Shopper's Park' was two or three pathetic little filthy metal tables used mostly by the homeless. Downtown Crossing was far better when it was juts plain old Washington Street, before someone had the idea it could be an urban version of a suburban mall byshutting off traffic. It obviously didn't work.

Shopper's Park is only temporarily gone

By Ron Newman on Sun, 03/09/2014 - 7:51pm.

Shopper's Park was created by realigning Franklin Street to meet up with Bromfield Street. I think this happened as a side benefit of constructing the Woolworth's building (now TJ Maxx / Marshall's / H&M).

The park temporarily disappeared as a result of demolishing the Filene's annex along Franklin Street, but it will return once the Filene's Tower is finished.

Not a bad place to sit for "only a few minutes".

Shopper's Park

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