Goodwin Block

125–143 Main Street & 5–9 North Maple, Florence, MA

Black-and-white photograph of Goodwin Block at the intersection of Maple Street and Main Street. Storefronts are in view, and cars can be seen parked on the sides of the roads. From left to right, the visible signs on the street are: "F.J. Rogers Co. Sporting Goods Hardware", "Radios". "Smoking", "MurDuffs","Liquors Tavern Hampden Ale", "Purcells Tavern", "Tremblay Drugs", "U.S. Mail", "A&P Food Stores", "Miss Florence Diner", "Maple Street", "Budweiser", "Alexander's ... Cocktails", "Park"
Photograph of Goodwin Block. Historic Northampton (ID no. 2019.33.71).
A modern photograph of Goodwin Block. Store fronts including Miss Florence Diner, Full Circle, "Bike Shop," and United States Postal Service are in view. All store signs are light blue and in same style except for Florence Diner. People walking and biking infront of the shops.
Photograph of storefronts, Goodwin Block.

The Goodwin Block was erected 1923 by Harley Goodwin on the site of the former Paul Strong Tavern. Mid-20th-century tenants were the A&P grocery store, Tremblay Drug Store, Murduff’s Jewelry, and F.J. Rogers Bike Shop. Before moving to the Goodwin Block, Fred (“F.J”) Rogers began business in a different location, selling farm equipment, harnesses, and hardware.

In the 1920s, William Rogers (F.J.’s son) borrowed money from a family member to purchase eight bicycles from Columbia Manufacturing in Westfield. In addition to bicycles, William Rogers sold parts for Model T cars, sporting goods, tobacco, and firearms. During the Depression, paperboys bought their bicycles from Rogers, who allowed them to pay off the cost in installments of 50 cents per week. When the business moved to 3 Main Street (near Plymouth Avenue, east of the Pie Bar), it ceased selling tobacco and firearms. F.J. Rogers went out of business at the end of 2016. The building was torn down in 2019 and the site is now a parking lot.

The Goodwin Block has seen many long-term tenants over the recent decades. The Pizza Factory, owned by Mustafa Ibic, occupied the corner space (number 143) from 1979 to 2024. Current occupants are Florence Barber Shop, Florence Village Flower & Gift Shoppe, a tax and payroll service, Full Circle Bike Shop (previously on Maple Street and then in the Norwood Engineering complex), and the U.S. Post Office (in the space that was formerly the A & P). The block was purchased in 2022 from the Shea family by Tigre Opportunity Fund, LLC.