Product Details & Size Guide
Celebrate the story of Lechmere, a Cambridge retailer whose history began with a harness shop in 1913 and grew alongside changing New England households. The company moved from tires into appliances and a wide selection of everyday merchandise, then expanded into communities across the region and beyond. After passing through several corporate owners, Lechmere announced its closure in 1997. This quarter-zip sweatshirt connects collectors and former shoppers with a memorable local chain and the changing history of American retail.
Lechmere began in 1913, when Abraham Cohen bought a harness shop in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and named it for the nearby Lechmere district. As automobiles grew popular, the business added tires and became Lechmere Vulcanizing Company. After Cohen’s children joined following World War II, it expanded into appliances; in 1948 it became the incorporated Lechmere Tire & Sales Company. Household goods, televisions, toys, and other merchandise followed. The first store moved in 1956 to a former bus garage at 88 First Street in Cambridge, later expanded to 100,000 square feet. Dayton’s bought the chain in 1968; its parent became Dayton Hudson Corporation, while Lechmere remained a separate subsidiary. Store growth included Dedham, Danvers, and Springfield. In 1981 the company name was simplified to Lechmere, Inc., and the chain expanded beyond New England. Berkshire Partners and Boston developers Steve Karp and Steve Wiener bought it in 1989, then Berkshire sold it to Montgomery Ward Holdings in 1994. On August 1, 1997, the parent announced Lechmere’s closure during bankruptcy reorganization. All locations ceased business on November 7, 1997.
| XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | |
| Width, in | 18.50 | 20.00 | 21.50 | 23.00 | 25.00 | 27.00 | 29.50 | 32.50 |
| Length, in | 25.50 | 26.50 | 27.50 | 28.50 | 29.50 | 30.50 | 31.25 | 32.00 |
| Sleeve length (from center back), in | 33.75 | 34.50 | 35.50 | 36.00 | 36.75 | 37.50 | 38.25 | 39.00 |
| Size tolerance, in | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
Product features
- 55% cotton / 42% polyester / 3% spandex midweight blend
- Odor-resistant performance fabric
- Silver metal quarter-zip with metal pull
- Self-banded cuffs and hem for structured fit
- Medium-heavy fabric (9.73 oz/yd²) with subtle stretch
Care instructions
- Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F)
- Non-chlorine: bleach as needed
- Tumble dry: low heat
- Iron, team or dry: medium heat
- Do not dryclean
EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY
Product information: Mercer+Mettle™ MM3040, 2 year warranty in EU and Northern Ireland as per Directive 1999/44/EC
Care instructions: Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F), Non-chlorine: bleach as needed, Tumble dry: low heat, Iron, team or dry: medium heat, Do not dryclean
EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY
Product information: Mercer+Mettle™ MM3040, two year warranty in the EU and Northern Ireland
Care instructions: Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F), Non-chlorine: bleach as needed, Tumble dry: low heat, Iron, team or dry: medium heat, Do not dryclean