Closing leaves shoppers down in the Basement

For bargain shoppers, it was the equivalent of the last Celtics game at the Boston Garden. The last plate of foie gras served at Maison Robert. Or the last time maestro Arthur Fiedler waved a baton at the Hatch Shell.

Filene's Basement closed yesterday after 99 years, leaving a void in Downtown Crossing and a trail of broken plastic hangers, empty glass display cases, and barren racks where generations of shoppers flipped through blouses, suits, and designer dresses looking for bargains that got better the longer an item remained on the floor.

"I really just wanted a receipt, so I could say I was here on the last day," said Christine O'Gara, 39, who had a ritual of coming every other Sunday. "I would have come every Sunday, if I had the money."

The store, which was opened in 1908 by Edward A. Filene beneath his father's department store, is closing for two years while the property is renovated - a $625 million hotel, condominium, office, and retail complex will replace the old Filene's and Filene's Basement, which were separate businesses. The last day was grim, with a succession of closeout sales clearing out all but the most shunned of merchandise. Large sections of the showroom floor were cordoned off with yellow caution tape.

Developers John B. Hynes III of Boston and Vornado of New York will have four floors of retail from street level up, and freshened three floors of Filene's Basement space below, in a project that city officials and neighbors hope will boost the fortunes of Downtown Crossing.

With 95 percent off most items, customers scrounged through khaki pants, striped bikini bottoms, and silky pumpkin-colored tops that were ripped, stained, or had missing buttons.

One bin held a mix of high-heeled shoes, cinnamon-flavored jelly beans, and a cream colored sash with a green floral print that looked as if it may have been a belt for a dress or a coat. Nearby an open black tube of men's shaving gel sat on top of an empty case with smudged glass.

Still, there were bargains to be found. Michael Maple, 44, held a receipt for $4,420 worth of purchases - two pin-striped Hickey Freeman suits; 10 pairs of pumps, spike high heels, and other shoes for his sister and fiancee; and two suede leather skirts from Calvin Klein marred by stains he hoped would come out. After discounts, Maple paid $220.

To him, that was worth coming from Medford at 8:45 a.m. and waiting outside for almost an hour for the store to open. "You've got to get down and dirty at Filene's Basement," Maple said as he clutched six plastic bags bulging with his bounty. "You've got to work for it, but you can get lucky."

While Maple wore shorts and sandals, Julius Osula did his shopping in a crisp dark suit. Osula, 36, stopped on his way to work as a security guard in the Financial District and bought three pairs of linen pants for his sister in Nigeria. "I got them for $1.50," he said. "That's not bad."

In the days leading up to yesterday's finale, Mayor Thomas M. Menino bought three Ermenegildo Zegna suits and a Hickey Freeman sport coat. An aunt taught Menino the virtue of bargain shopping when he was 10, said the mayor. "Like going to church, every Sunday was Filene's Basement," Menino said yesterday as he shook hands with shoppers and hugged teary-eyed employees.