A frequent topic on local social media deals with people’s favorite stores in the past and so today we’ll take a look at two of them. For those who grew up in Willimantic prior to the mid-70s, there were two stores that, more than most, were fascinating to youngsters, Joe’s Key Way and the Surplus Center. Joseph and Helen Paquette from Canterbury ran Joe’s Key Way and the shop was usually referred to as “Joe Keyway’s”, sometimes with Helen being referred to as “Mrs. Keyway” (today’s photo). Joe was a talented locksmith and it was said that he could easily open safes without combinations. He had a policy of not wanting to know what was in a safe and was happy to just do his work, get paid and leave. He was also excellent at clock repair and the store sold mantel clocks. He was often busy cutting keys or working in the back room and so Helen stayed in the store. Joe’s Key Way, had something for everyone. Joe and Helen didn’t seem to mind if young people spent a great deal of time in the store looking at merchandise and asking questions. In the merchandise packed store, crafters could find molds, wax and scents for candle making, gimp (plastic lacing cord) with which to make bracelets and necklaces, wire and resin for plastic flowers (the wire was looped and dipped into the resin to form petals), geode rocks, Matchbox cars and trucks, Roco HO trains and military vehicles and tanks, and thousands of Revell model planes, boats and cars. There were Daisy air rifles and archery equipment, radio controlled airplanes, prank items such as cigarette “loads”, hand buzzers and smoke bombs. Joe had a collection of bells of all shapes, sizes and materials from all over the world and he was often asked to discuss them at meetings of local clubs and organizations. Joe made headlines in 1974 when he surprised two armed burglars in his home in Canterbury and “shot it out” with them. Fortunately, he received only a flesh wound. For a short time, the original clock from the Willimantic Savings Institute stood on the Paquette’s front lawn. As young people grew older, the Surplus Center became more attractive. The Surplus Center was begun by Sam Gordon in 1947 and was described as, “an eclectic retail emporium and a magnet for Main Street shoppers”. Sam started out selling fatigues, Army blankets and chinos, but soon after, he added sporting goods, including guns and ammo, work clothes and boots, hardware, paint, sneakers, garden tools, toilet paper, and for a time, even toys. For many Willi youth, Surplus Center was the “go to” store for clothes, especially jeans, “buffalo sandals”, painters pants and the fatigues”. Coin and stamp collectors found a huge array of each. Several people who had worked there described it as a great place to work and said Sam was a wonderful boss. He had a strong work ethic and his feeling was, “Work hard - There is ALWAYS something that needs to be done". The Surplus Center also sold guns. One of Sam’s 1957 newspaper ads would certainly raise eyebrows today. In large, bold letters it said, “GUN BUGS! GUN NUTS! …. We’re having an old fashioned Gun Trading Night. Throw ‘em on the table, tag ‘em, the price or deal you want”. Eventually, the gun sales at Surplus Center made Sam unpopular with local and state police even though nothing he did was illegal. Police Chief Philip Rose said that the sales were, “within the law” but had called Gordon’s attention to the fact that, “many times, guns used in the commission of crimes had been purchased at his store”. Rose went on to say how many out-of-state people purchase guns there. A Superior Court judge also expressed concern about handgun sales. Sam’s real problem, though, stemmed from the many gun thefts from his store. In 1981, he installed sheet metal overhead doors in front of the store and this drew the wrath of the Redevelopment Agency from which approval was necessary. The doors were said to be “unattractive and gave the Main Street area an image of abundant crime”. Overall, however, the Surplus Center and Sam Gordon himself, are the source of wonderful memories. Sam also opened another Main Street business, Office Furniture Warehouse, which sold used equipment. He retired in 2000 and donated his building to the Windham Area Interfaith Ministry.