About
November 30th, 1999
My name is Michelle (formerly Swartz) McElroy, I was born at Framingham Union Hospital (with my twin sister) and grew up in Holliston, MA Even though I wasn’t raised in Framingham, I have always had family here. My dad and uncle owned a business in downtown Framingham in the 70’s and 80’s, and my twin sister and I have fond memories “helping” and spending time there. I worked in Framingham to help support myself while attending Framingham State College, and in 2005 purchased a home next to the hospital where I was born.
The purpose of this blog is to share my experinces and help make people aware of local business  and any interesting progress, changes and events going on in Framingham, and to have fun.  I’m open to and encourage comments but if you’re looking to pick a fight over a restaurant or something please don’t bother. There are plenty of blogs out there that can accomodate the need for insulting and superiority fixes, I like to think of this blog as a vacation from that stuff : )
Thanks!
Want to send an email or have old Framingham pictures you want to share?
michelle@thisisframingham.com
I’m on IM too, AOL IM: pizzaguy2000
Additional note: Sometimes people ask me to promote their event/store/item. Before you ask, please keep in mind this is just a personal blog about things I experience. If I haven’t tried or wasn’t planning on trying something, I can’t post about it. But, I do “barter” in the form of an exchange for a post (free adversizing) for a ticket to the event, food at a restuarant, sample of an item etc… to experience/post about.  I’d love to check out everything in town but it can get expensive!
Love the website! Lots of good memories in Framingham - Eb’s, Coyote (not sure if anyone remembers that restaurant, but Michelle & I do!), Shoppers World, the Lechmere Mall…good times
Comment by Elaine Line — June 21, 2006 @ 3:28 pm
Thank You for the trip down memory lane!!!
Comment by Mark Galante — July 23, 2006 @ 1:41 pm
Wow, this is a great blog, Michelle. I stumbled upon it looking for restaurants in Framingham, as we always wind up going to our favorite few.
I’m happy to see the 400 club is back, and still great — it’s been years since I’ve been there!
Keep up the excellent work, you should be the Metrowest Phantom Gourmet!
Comment by Lisa — February 21, 2007 @ 6:12 pm
I love the website, Michelle. I stumbled upon it by accident. Keep up the good work!
BTW, I was wondering if you knew what was going in at the site of the old Rainbow buffet (formerly Emack and Bolio’s, Tony Roma’s, etc.) I noticed workers there yesterday removing the awnings and signs. I figured that if anyone would be able to get info about it, it would be you.
Thanks!
Comment by Karen — March 4, 2007 @ 10:08 pm
Great web site/blog. Love the memories and heads up on just about everything. Keep up the good work
Comment by Jerry — September 19, 2007 @ 3:39 am
I now live in Framingham and really enjoy the info/commentary you provide here. I too was born at Framingham Union Hospital and grew up in Holliston and have always had family in Framingham. I recently (last week) mentioned to my husband that I’d like to see the Dennison condos and low and behold, you’ve got pictures up. Great work.
Comment by Debra — September 20, 2007 @ 7:17 pm
Great website, I was born at Framingham Union whole family was orginaly from Framingham now no one lives their the website brings back loads of memories. The IOOF Hall picture you recently published that is now a church; that is the Odd Fellows Hall (Independent Order of Odd Fellows) my Grandfather was a member as well as his father I remember going up their when I was 6 and 7 years old that picture brought back a flood of memories!
Comment by Paul Mitchell — November 27, 2007 @ 3:42 pm
Michelle,
I live in Holliston and work in Framingham at the Public Library and I LOVE your site.
Can you please consider adding the library’s website, www.framinghamlibrary.org to your list of local links?
Thanks - keep up the good work.
Comment by Laraine — December 14, 2007 @ 9:12 pm
Found your blog by accident! Love it! Lots of good info, and lots of flashbacks. I nearly died of laughing at the Maurice the Pants Man reference!
I moved to Sudbury my sophmore year in high school in ‘84, so I spent a lot of time at the theaters, malls and of course fun and games. I now live in North Framingham.
Comment by Mike — December 18, 2007 @ 9:39 pm
Great website…400 club pizza was the best I had during my time at Framingham State..What ever happened to the old bank that housed Bambinos?
Comment by Joe G — January 30, 2008 @ 8:30 pm
Great blog. I have lived in Framingham, Natick,Ashland, Sherborn and Hopkinton but no live in another state.
You have brought back some memories, and I have seen a few fights at the swallow over the years.
Thanks.
Comment by Chris Swift — February 13, 2008 @ 1:45 am
Love this website (and, as a Natick resident, very excited about the new “This Is Metrowest” sister site)! I always get excited when my RSS reader indicates there’s a new entry to look at
Since you seem to be very in-the-know about what’s coming and going around here, maybe you can answer this question… There’s a chain of glow-in-the-dark Monster Mini Golf places (monsterminigolf.com) and their website says there’s a new one coming in Framingham/Natick in 2008. Any idea when and where this will be? Have you heard anything about this?
TIA for any info you might have!
Laura
Comment by Laura G. — March 21, 2008 @ 7:59 pm
This site is great! Good memories of Framingham. What ever happened to Marconi’s and Union House? Left Framingham in 1991, so it’s great seeing the pics.
Thanks!!!
Comment by Chris LaCounte — March 23, 2008 @ 1:59 am
Great website. I was born @ Framingham Union Hospital in 1967. I grew up in framingham and then moved to Southboro. My Dad worked @ Framingham State for 35 years. I havenot been back to framingham since 2003 ,my dad lives in Texas now. You have done a great job on this site. Here a few things I remember growing up. Cabot furniture store was the Chateau Deville, big banquet hall club. In the 80’s it had a few dance/ disco clubs on side of it. Where Trader Joes is now located used to be the Fonda del Corro ( you a have a pic of it on your site) , a motel and restuarant, was Duca’ s restuarant for a little while after that. The Cape Cod resturant was by the old library in framingham center.whatever happened to the Lechmere Mall On rte 30? Also, is Reilly’s Roast beef still open in Nobscot? Anyway really great site. I have it bookmarked.
Comment by Rob M — April 23, 2008 @ 1:07 am
great blog!!! thanks for the fond memories. I live in Arizona now and miss the old Framingham.. .. anyone i know please send me a line johnny_ray@cox.net
Comment by John Cannistraro — September 5, 2008 @ 8:53 pm
Hi
Great website! I just stumbled on this by accident. How fabulous! I grew up in Framingham and my family is all in MA.
I live in San Francisco, but I will pass your blog on to my sisters.
Thanks!!
Comment by Ellen Spencer — November 21, 2008 @ 10:49 am
Great blog Michelle.
I bookmarked it as I’ll be checking it regularly. I love the pizza pictures and reviews (La Cantina is currently my local favorite).
James
http://blog.jvf.com
Comment by James — December 21, 2008 @ 1:51 am
Michelle,
I came across your Blog while looking for some information about Framingham based businesses. Once I came across this blog, I spent the next 1 hour surfing through your posts and totally neglected my original search! In any case, you have a great blog and thanks for taking time to share your experiences and some good info about the town.
Comment by NGP — January 12, 2009 @ 3:58 pm
Hi Michelle: I just noticed that the awful Arby’s is gone from Nobscot and has been replaced by a diner. Know anything about it?
Comment by Taylor — May 27, 2009 @ 6:41 am
Great site - Thanks. Just found your site when looking for info on the future of Fabric Place. I have lived in Downtown (or just out side of it) for many years and appreciate your blog and the information.
Comment by j. Lang — September 17, 2009 @ 7:28 am
Hello! I also grew up in Holliston and now live in Framingham. I find your blog incredibly interesting! I think I must live near you as I can also walk downtown. If you would care to take a walk around town: I would love to join you for a chat.
Take care,
Mary Anne
Comment by Mary Anne Johndrow — October 3, 2009 @ 2:55 pm
thanks for a great townie website. i moved here about a year ago from waltham where i was close to moody st. i am always missing the little mom and pop shops of waltham and west newton. thanks for letting me know about so many places in the area.
Comment by Emily — November 28, 2009 @ 4:47 pm
Michelle, I just found you!!! You’re got a GREAT site. Keep up the great work.
Roni
Comment by Roni Cronin — January 26, 2010 @ 11:28 pm
One place that has changed surprisingly little in30 years is the Papa Gino’s in the Rt. 30 Mall. Victoria Station, Thje Meadows, and Hanlon’s Shoes are long gone as next door neighbors, and the 70’s juke boxes and salad bar are but mere framed shadows of what once was, but Papa’s store lay-out and glassed corner (that allows you to see your pizza being made in front of you) remains virtually unchanged. The pizza’s still great too!
Comment by Jim D — February 14, 2010 @ 12:59 pm
i have lived in framingham in the 70’s now in marlborough and travel the whole metrowest as i have been living here since the late 50’s. i too liked marconi’s and looking for the receipe for lasagna, which was excellent.
Comment by steve mabardy — April 13, 2010 @ 8:29 am
Hi Michelle, I love your blog ! My husband and I just moved to Framingham with a few months ago and is nice to know a little more about our new town. We love trying local places and this is a nice way to help us finding new places to try.
Comment by Ana — June 25, 2010 @ 4:13 pm