Heartbreaking News: Larry Dean Reflects on the Closure of World Eye

Louise Amyot’s letter about the closing of the World Eye really struck a chord with me. I haven’t been to Greenfield much lately, so I didn’t even know the store had shut down. It’s disappointing that I couldn’t find any public announcement about its closing. I only saw a mention on Facebook, but I’m not a subscriber to that platform.

I first came to Greenfield in 1969. Back then, the World Eye was a tiny shop on Federal Street. I have a faint memory of talking to the owner. Was his name Charles? He seemed to know some famous American writers, maybe even Hemingway or Frost. The World Eye truly was a beloved part of our community for over 50 years.

I’ll admit that I contributed to its closure. Online shopping has made things so convenient, and I often chose that over visiting local shops. Yet, it’s still sad to see a great place like the World Eye disappear. I’d love to hear from anyone who has more memories or stories about the store, especially from its early days. Losing this store is a real blow to our community.

— Larry Dean, Greenfield