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History rolls on: Ellis the Rim Man, its red billboard towering over Brighton traffic, has demarcated Boston University's western rim for four decades. The family-run automotive accessory store originally opened at 149 Berkeley Street in 1917, relocating to 1027 Commonwealth Ave. in September 1939. It moved in next to BU in 1961, taking up residence at 1001 Commonwealth Ave., a former Ford/Lincoln Motor Car Company showroom on the corner of Babcock Street. University faculty and staff have been among the store's loyal customers, but last spring we were saddened to learn that Edward Ellis, president of the business and son of the late Moe Ellis, the original Rim Man, had quietly closed his doors and sold the building. Ellis was nearing retirement age and knew the marketplace was changing with the times. Once consumers had to purchase separately what are now standard factory-installed components in cars: air conditioning, cruise control, stereo, and even rear-view mirrors and seat belts. New gadgets came along for trucks and SUVs, but "none of them were things we could retire on," Ellis says. The 82-year-old building's new owner and occupant will be the Media and Technology Charter High School (MATCH), an independent school with an accelerated college-preparatory curriculum, which could open as early as next summer. The school, run by a nonprofit foundation, will admit Boston public school students tuition-free. Joe the Mattress Man, a.k.a. Joe Doyle (SED'77), president of New England Mattress and Futon, is renting retail space on the main floor until mid-October; after that, school trustees expect to begin interior demolition work and renovations. The fate of Ellis' trademark roof sign remains uncertain. Photo by BU Photo Services

7 September 2001
Boston University
Office of University Relations