Cash Mob To Descend On West Concord 5 & 10

Perhaps the most vintage of all the shops in West Concord Village will be the site of a decidedly modern mob scene this weekend as a “cash mob” is preparing to descend on the West Concord 5 & 10 this Saturday, March 2.

According to the event description, a cash mob is a grassroots, community-led movement to support a local business. For this mob, members of the community, all of them with $20 in hand, will come together to shop at the West Concord 5&10.

The upcoming cash mob was organized by West Concord resident Polly Stadt and her daughter, Emma Hill, as a way to show their appreciation for the iconic local five-and-dime store.

“It is a staple to our community and we want it to be there another 80 years,” Stadt wrote in an email to Patch. “People of all ages shop at the 5&10.  It is often a ritual for kids to go into town on a weekend or half-day of school and shop at the 5&10. For over 80 years, this has been happening and it isn’t surprising to find that some of the staff were those kids that shopped there at a young age. The 5&10 offers a variety of traditional and unusual items and the staff is very helpful and quirky in a good way.”

The cash mob is set to begin at 9 a.m. at the West Concord 5 & 10, located at 106 Commonwealth Ave. in West Concord. To participate, one must just show up with $20 and patronize the store, which offers a wildly wide range of items – from toys to tools to electronics to toilet seats.

Stadt said she hopes the cash mob becomes a way for the community to show its support for the village staple that has supported the community through its eclectic inventory.

“Giving back to others, and giving back to your community is what makes lives and communities vibrant, healthy and exciting,” Stadt wrote. “Having locally owned businesses in your community, supports, not only your local economy but also helps with local employment. Locally owned stores are embedded in our communities, thus they have a more intimate and invested involvement with its town."