November 6, 2026 | Main Street
A pedestrian waits beneath an umbrella on a rainy day in downtown Worcester, with the historic Denholm Building looming across Main Street — a familiar landmark whose days may be numbered.
Located at 484-500 Main St., the building was once home to Denholm & McKay, a department store that opened in 1870 and became a shopping destination for generations of Worcester residents. At its height, it was the largest department store in Massachusetts outside Boston.
The store closed in 1973, and the building was subsequently converted into offices and commercial space. More recently, its vacant storefront windows have served as galleries for public art and exhibits celebrating Worcester’s history.
Now, another transformation is approaching. The city recently received a $3 million state grant to help demolish the vacant building and prepare the 1.2-acre property for redevelopment. The Menkiti Group has proposed replacing it with a mixed-use development featuring approximately 175 to 187 apartments.
For now, the old Denholm name still overlooks Main Street, as it has for decades. Antonio Pastor’s photograph captures a gray, rain-soaked moment in downtown Worcester — and a familiar piece of the city’s landscape before its next chapter begins.
About the photographer: Antonio Pastor is a technology business executive who has called Worcester home since 2005. An avid cyclist and photographer, he combines his passions to capture distinctive images of Worcester and the surrounding communities during his daily bike rides.
About the series: “This Is Worcester” is a Worcester Guardian photography series celebrating the people, places and everyday scenes of Central Massachusetts. Readers are invited to submit photographs for consideration to carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org. Please include a brief description, location and photographer credit.
