Best of Boston

Eliot Tatelman has been New England’s most recognizable pitchman, making couch shopping a matter of regional identity with his self-deprecating TV commercials, Red Sox loyalties, and homegrown accent. With his brother Barry, the Jordan’s Furniture CEO transformed sterile showrooms into suburban wonderlands, complete with IMAX theaters. Now 79 and retiring, it’s like a Hall of Famer hanging up his cleats. To paraphrase @bahstonaccent: Will they hang Eliot’s ponytail from the store rafters?