Hollis

I’m biased; I grew up there in the 80s, when there was much less there. I remember when the first traffic light was installed, when the first pizza place opened, when Bankers Deli replaced the old bank (and was in turn replaced by a Dunkin Donuts). Most of my high school years were spent at Denny’s in Nashua (the next town over), stretching a bottomless cup of coffee till two or three in the morning, and sometimes if I was really bored I’d walk six miles to the movie theater. There’s more in Hollis now, in terms of things to do, and the conveniences of modern life …

… but on the other hand, what was once a quiet little New England town filled with red barns and white Colonials, perfectly posed for a gift shop postcard, is now dominated by housing developments and SUVs. McDonald’s and Starbucks will be next, as Hollis continues its transition from farm town to generic upper middle class suburb.