Closed places that I miss. (Manahawkin: castle, drive-in, drive)

[diorgirl]

Originally Posted by EEEPNJ

The "old" Journal Square in Jersey City. When it was so nice and had quality stores, not junk store central. And the beautiful Lowes and Stanley theaters. Lord's Children's Store where Mom would buy all my "special" dresses and Girl Scout Gear.

Speaking of great clothing stores at the "old" Journal Square, do you remember Cara Carson? It had great clothing and accessories -- and a full shoe department downstairs that was operated by Wenton's shoe store (originally on Bergen Avenue).

And what about that tiny gown shop tucked in next to the State Theater? I remember being mesmerized by the beading and sequins in that window when I was a kid.

Of course, the State Theater is long gone (as is the Pix which was on Bergen Avenue), but the Loew's and the Stanley have been completely restored. You can catch different classic film festivals at the Loew's on weekends. The Stanley is run by a religious group, but they do give guided tours to show off the restoration.

[ADDBrophy]

Haha never in my wildest dreams would I have thought this post would get this big when I first did it. Nice! And that it would have a discussion about yuppies and blue collars into heavy metal. Geigers was a place that I would hold any apple pie I ever have for the rest of my life against as the best apple pie ever! Great cider donuts to I remember! Westfield in the late 80's-about 2001 was awesome (not so much anymore except for Trader Joe's). Also, I remember Dairy Barn. I suppose it was just another mom-and-pop place taken out by BR or had a declining management. Somerset Rutgers Theater is now a super stop and shop and was taken out by NB Loews and SP Regal (as well as a deteriorating interior). The Kmart is still there but I'm sure the minute a Wal-Mart or Target is built right near it they will go down as well. BTW I'm suprised the Kmart in N. Plainfield is still open since Wal Mart and Target are right near it and this Kmart looks like it's about to collapse.

[BergenCountyJohnny]

#1 place I miss - VAN RIPER'S FARM. There is now an A&P there. What a shame.

Other places:
Gino's on Rt. 17 in Paramus (it's now a Wendy's)

Pizza Town on Rt. 17

The mural at Alexander's at the Rt 4 and 17 that everyone thought was ugly and/or weird. I miss Alexander's also.

Valley Fair in Hillsdale (is now ShopRite)

Stern's in Paramus on Rt 4 (is now Century 21)

Korvette's/Bradlees/Caldor (I miss em all!) on Rt 4, across from Sterns

Two Guys in Hackensack (is now Home Depot).

And at Rutgers, I miss a lot from when I went there, like Greasy Tony's and my fraternity's house, amongst other things.

Times sure have changed!

[Bellyflops]

Geiger's in, I believe, Mountainside. Miss their great apple and pumpkin pie.

[zhelder]

Originally Posted by BergenCountyJohnny

#1 place I miss - VAN RIPER'S FARM. There is now an A&P there. What a shame.

Other places:
Gino's on Rt. 17 in Paramus (it's now a Wendy's)

Pizza Town on Rt. 17

The mural at Alexander's at the Rt 4 and 17 that everyone thought was ugly and/or weird. I miss Alexander's also.

Valley Fair in Hillsdale (is now ShopRite)

Stern's in Paramus on Rt 4 (is now Century 21)

Korvette's/Bradlees/Caldor (I miss em all!) on Rt 4, across from Sterns

Two Guys in Hackensack (is now Home Depot).

And at Rutgers, I miss a lot from when I went there, like Greasy Tony's and my fraternity's house, amongst other things.

Times sure have changed!

Wow, you brought back some memories! I would definitely take Korvette's/Bradlee's/Caldor over Kohl's and Target. And Two Guys hauled major butt. I think almost every toy I got up until they closed around 1982 my parents bought from there.

And boy oh boy, do I miss Stern's. They kept Macy's in check.

There was also a great pizza place on Route 4 East in Paramus where the Wendy's is now called Pronto. They made the best personal pizzas. (They were about $2 each at the time.) I remember my mother taking us there for dinner all the time. And they had a Punch Out arcade machine. It was pizza first, and then a round of Punch Out! They closed sometime around 1986 or 1987, I think.

[diorgirl]

Originally Posted by ADDBrophy

Geigers was a place that I would hold any apple pie I ever have for the rest of my life against as the best apple pie ever! Great cider donuts to I remember!

Great cider donuts today? The Orchard in Colt's Neck!

[Liz555]

I miss the bowling alley in Interstate Shopping Mall in Ramsey (too many fun nights), Jimmy Rieds (it was so cheesey yet I sadly admit closed it too many nights there) in Ramsey, I too miss the Sagebrush Cantina in Morris Plains, many fun happy hours there, also I too miss Alexanders....one of my favorite pictures from my childhood is my whole family around the tree & me with a new doll and a HUGE Alexanders box is sitting right beside me....little bit of history. I loved all those old time department stores.
Now just this past week...Educational Warehouse in Randolph **sigh**, the drive in in Manahawkin....is the single movie theatre still there in Hawthorn? I don't think it is. I saw all my 1st Disney movies there....yes, it's sad to grow up...everything has to change.

[Liz555]

Ohhh & I forgot..."The Rag Shop" of course

[diogenesNY]

Holy cow, BCJohny!

You just brought back a veritable avalanche of memories from childhood.... Bergan county as a young child in the early 1970s (Ridgewood)....... I remember all those places very well......

Sad to hear that the Alexanders mural is gone. That was a really iconic landmark imho, as well as an amazingly provocative piece of public expressionist art.

I seem to recall riding in the car with one or both of my parents on Rt.'s 4 and 17 a lot, and most of the mentioned establishments were sort of signposts along the way for me. I went to VanRipers farm on a kindergarten field trip!

As a child then, the visions of the endless rows of stores and strip malls in route 17 seemed endlessly fascinating and exciting..... and I would imagine exploring each end every one of them when I was older and not stuck in the car on some purposeful auto journey.

diogenesNY

Originally Posted by BergenCountyJohnny

#1 place I miss - VAN RIPER'S FARM. There is now an A&P there. What a shame.

Other places:
Gino's on Rt. 17 in Paramus (it's now a Wendy's)

Pizza Town on Rt. 17

The mural at Alexander's at the Rt 4 and 17 that everyone thought was ugly and/or weird. I miss Alexander's also.

Valley Fair in Hillsdale (is now ShopRite)

Stern's in Paramus on Rt 4 (is now Century 21)

Korvette's/Bradlees/Caldor (I miss em all!) on Rt 4, across from Sterns

Two Guys in Hackensack (is now Home Depot).

And at Rutgers, I miss a lot from when I went there, like Greasy Tony's and my fraternity's house, amongst other things.

Times sure have changed!

[Summering]

I miss Bertrands Island on a cool, summers night..just to stroll around...
I miss the Drive In's......Morris Plains and Parsippany
The flea/market auction in Pine Brook.......What fun!
I miss Sports Night at Morris Hills
Oh and you know what?..........I miss when the Morris County Fair was fantastic. It was huge, huge, held on farm lands.........and an all day event. Just a wonderful fair.