First in a Series: From Our Archives – “Buy in Takoma Park”

One of the rewards of opening all the Archives boxes is discovering fascinating items, like this ad from the December 1929 Takoma Enterprise newspaper. 

“Shop Local” isn’t a new concept. Takoma merchant David Feldman was making this plea even before the Great Depression’s full impact was being felt.

We don’t know much about Feldman. We do have a postcard of his store, which stood where Cedar Crossing is today. And his newspaper ads tell us a great deal. His first ad in the July 1928 issue  of the Takoma Enterprise was titled “Compliments from a Foreigner on the Birthday of the United States of America.” 

In December 1930, he references the 25th anniversary  of opening his store on January 25, 1904. Perhaps most poignantly, his December 1932 pleads with customers, “Don’t keep your foot on the gas until you are all the way downtown, but drift up to the curb in front of the one that is our very own and add your bit to local prosperity.” If you have any further information on David Feldman or his story, please  contact us at archives@historictakoma.org. (To see more Feldman’s ads from the Enterprise, keep reading…)

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