The neighborhood takes its name from the Coolidge & Brother general store that opened in 1857 at that intersection[1] at the site of today's S.S. Pierce building, which was for many years the only commercial business in north Brookline.

In recent years, an influx of national bank chains has taken over several prime storefronts, detracting from the traditional neighborhood retail mix.

[citation needed] The neighborhood has a significant Jewish population, and there are large synagogues located on both Beacon and Harvard streets.

The northern portion of Harvard Street, near the border with the Boston neighborhood of Allston, is characterized by a cluster of Jewish-oriented shops, including a bookstore, giftshop, kosher butcher, and various other stores and eateries.

In 2018, Brookline's Town Meeting approved a warrant article to rename the school, citing Edward Devotion's ownership of slaves.