244 Park Ave.

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Before the rise of the “Big Three” American automakers (Ford, Chrysler, and GMC), numerous manufacturers turned out cars and crowded cities with dealerships. Worcester was no exception. The west side of Park Ave between Elm St. and Pleasant St. was principally made up of car showrooms and repair shops, as Worcester’s primarily residential west side was made possible by the rising use of personal automobiles. The brick-faced building at 244 and 246 that is now home to That’s E! Pop Culture Emporium was built to showcase the last models from Marmon Motor Car Company and Jordan Motor Car Company. Both are now largely forgotten, because neither company survived the economic tumult of the 1930s. The Marmons had a reputation as reliable, fast, and upscale with the allure of one of their models having won the first Indianapolis 500. The Jordans, on the other hand, were known for their styling and not their engineering, as they used component parts from other manufacturers. Both are now largely forgotten, because neither company survived the economic tumult of the 1930s. The building continued to be used for car sales through the 1950s, until an electrical co. and a barber supply shop occupied the premises. Just before That’s E! moved to 244 Park Ave, the building was serving the city’s displaced industrial workforce of 1970s and 1980s as the Roger W. Bruce Vocational Evaluation and Adjustment Center.