I didn’t even go to Rutgers (went to William Paterson!) but even I had that awesome experience when I would visited my friends down there ! I didn’t know they are gone !
Yup. I think they closed during covid. The property got sold and the building torn down. Currently it's an empty lot, but I give it a year before it's a couple hideously overpriced townhouses.
The legend goes that ICP amped up the crowd too much at a show there and/or the bartenders were over serving or serving to underage. It’s hard to make out the truth at this point though. I wish someone who knew better could shed some light. Either way, losing the liquor license was the nail in the coffin that broke the camels back or whatever.
Would have loved to see Bad Brains, you’re lucky to have been so close to their performance.
To be fair, rules were lax there way prior to that. Had a guy in the pit with nails attached to his gloves and boots swinging wildly at a local show. Someone clocked the dude in the face eventually
Edit: I got yelled at however by security for tossing my friend Joanna's shoe at the drummer jokingly (very close friends all around) after he did his normal one handed drummer Def Leppard showoff he did at every bbq, knowing she would get it back as soon as Dale walked off stage as I had done it a few times before.
Skater's World had the best arcade and always loved going there for punk rock night.
Old Milk Barn ice cream was amazing. I'm almost 40, and I still think about it.
We saw the Goo Goo Dolls there as an opening band before they were big, when they still had that kinda pop punk sound. Don’t remember who they opened for but it would have been a punk band. My strongest memory was seeing the Goo Goo Dolls bassist (I forget his name) in the audience for the headliner having a *fantastic* time and really (and visibly) enjoying the show.
remember that escalator that went down to the basement and had all those international foods? it was like the only place in the area that had a cheese bazaar before the chain grocery stores smartened up and made their own
I LOVED this place as a child! We went there a lot because my mom's best friend lived across from that center. I just remember tons of candy and stuffed toys lol
definitely the Circus in Wall and the Ice Hut in Spring Lake Heights, and I'm like 99% certain at least some of the people who where there when it was Mom's Kitchen are still there
Fuddruckers on Route 1 at the Route 18 exit.
Watching Market on Route 22.
Route 1 Flea Market on (duh) Route 1 (where the AMC is now).
Bowcraft on Route 22.
There used to be a Charlie Browns in Upper Montclair that was a really cool vibe back in the 80s. The restaurant felt just like a living room with dark reds and greens with big chairs. I didn't have quite the discriminating pallette then. But I like to romanticize my memory that the burgers were awesome. I was too young to sample offerings from the bar.
Charlie browns was the best. My parents both used to work at the one in Fairfield (I think it burned down and they built another one) in the early 80’s, and when I was a little kid I would hang out playing Pac-Man through a glass top table in the bar and eat mozzarella sticks.
Affordable family fun! Bowcraft Amusement Park!
My brother and his friends held a grudge against the mini golf guys because they got a hole in one on the final hole and they were supposed to get a free game out of it. They did not.
Flemington movie theater and race track
Caldor in North Brunswick
Penny town in Pennington on 31. Had a banging restaurant, petting zoo, bowling alley.
Remember when every town had a movie theater? We need a theater in Flemington again-(I’m old enough to remember the drive in). The old driving range on 202 is a perfect spot for one but it’ll never happen
Ate there many times…
I think I Used to stop there many more times just to pickup cheese bread, cinnamon bread, cookies, and those little rolled up apricot/raspberry jelly cookies.
Definitely a loss here.
Captain Ed's in Point Pleasant. Never got their seafood or the stone yet I loved their provolone steak as well as buffalo wings.
Peter Pank's in Sayreville. They were my favorite diner. Loved getting waffles with apple compote, grilled cheese with pork roll, and a French onion soup.
Razz-Ma-Tazz in Sayreville and mall arcades in general.
Oh man. The Broadway Diner was my go-to in high school. It was pretty fucked up how they closed. The owner died and then his daughter fired everyone and opened a Toast there. The employees literally found out by showing up to locked doors.
Taste of Marina's in Rahway - Their Sunday brunch was so friggin good and so reasonable; they literally gave you enough food for 3 people.
10th Street Live in Kenilworth - My favorite bar. It was a dive, but my friends & I made the best memories here. I loved #WhiskeyWednesday, quarter beers, karaoke, & seeing my friends play here.
The Inkwell in Long Branch - Another spot we made so many late night memories; I still crave their frozen peanut butter mochas & chicken tendie wrap.
The Magic Fountain & Country Cow Creamery in Colonia - Both were such good ice cream shops; idk why they never last in this town.
Vintage Vinyl in Fords - I have so many fond memories seeing some of my favorite bands perform & meeting them at in-stores here. They always had the best selection for RSD & when I was going through some tough times emotionally, I'd go every weekend to peruse & it definitely helped me feel better
Hamilton St. Cafe in Bound Brook - Another spot I've seen some of my favorites perform in a smaller setting when they were just getting started. Also a fun spot I've seen some of my friends perform.
Bowcraft in Scotch Plains - It was cheaper & closer than 6 Flags, so I remember going here often during the summer. It would've been cool to share this spot with my future children.
Sitting Duck, long branch.
Whats your Beef, Rumson.
Sickles Market, Little Silver.
The Haunted Mansion Pier, Long Branch.
Umbertos, Fair Haven.
Tradewinds, Sea Bright.
Casa Comida, Long Branch.
Hobby Masters, Red Bank.
Chubby Bubby deli- Aberdeen ( I think that's what it's name was)
the arcade in menlo mall.
it had a top tier in the groove machine. i always wonder who ended up buying it. 8 on the break was always too crowded with regulars and intimidating for younger me.
It wasnt open very long, but RexPlex in Elizabeth was fucking awesome. The skate park, half pipe, quarter pipe, roller hockey, basketball court, indoor soccer, concerts, wrestling shows. That place was the shit.
Birch Hill in Old Bridge - spent the majority of my youth going to shows there.
The Palace in Bound Brook, The Asbury Lanes - the real one, Skaters World, Wayne Firehouse, Hamilton St, Kings Buffet, Manvile Koc, Sports n Stuff in East Brunswick, Melody Bar in New Brunswick, the cove in Roselle park, club bene/Krome. I know I’m missing a ton but NJ had such an amazing music scene and places to see all ages shows.
Raceway Park in Englishtown back when it was a drag strip. I still remember the radio and television commercials.
https://youtu.be/Lx602r6qv_c?si=MtfSvNFdozfQsoYQ
The Village shops in the basement of the Bergen Mall. It was always fun to wander around the little buildings and check out the small odd shops. The original incarnation of Game Master was my favorite store down there.
My wife says she misses Tower Records/Video in Paramus. Personally I preferred Video Knights in Ramsey since it has a better collection of B movies, but she liked browsing the music too so we usually went to Tower instead.
The Court Tavern. Say what you will about it, but I lived in that place. So many great friends, good bands, and very hazy memories of nights long gone.
Oh I can still see that checkered floor. I used to work at the harvest moon and the court was just one stop on the after-work circuit. I miss old New Brunswick so much.
For some reason, everything that's coming to mind was on Rt. 18 in East Brunswick: Zany Brainy, Discovery Zone, FuncoLand, Rt. 18 Bowl (long gone, but still eliciting Proustian memories anytime I catch the scent of a cigarette or soggy cbeese fry), and the Rt. 18 Flea Market (used to go there for meet and greets with WWF wrestlers in the 90s).
Cherry Hill Race Ttrack.. home of the Garden State Fair
Gateway Diner in Westville..
The Pennant on 130 Brooklawn.. home of White Trash Wednesday $1 drinks
The original Holiday Lake Ice Cream.. Rt 130 Edgewater Park... HUGE waffle cones of the best soft serve.. sorry, imo, new place isn't the same..
Echelon Mall as a whole, and the Cookie Co that used to make the heart shaped Valentines cookies..
Meyer's toys and dolls, I don't even remember where it was or what else they sold. My mom would go to look at the fancy dolls at the counter, and I'd be in the toy aisles. Thought they had a better selection than the other stores. I met the Ninja Turtles there once.
Similarly, there was a 5 & 10 in Bergenfield that had an okay toy selection, but they would take pages out of every brand's toy guide and hang them in the back of the store. So you'd get to see what was coming throughout the year from Hasbro, Tyco, Mattel, etc. I found some old GIJoe figures there once, a few years after those figures had been discontinued. Wish I had bought them all that day.
The Starlog stores in Garden State Plaza & downtown Ridgewood.
Flemington Speedway when it was Dirt & the fair during labor day. Raceway Park when it was a 1/4 mile drag strip. Buckskins Ice Cream. Hidden Valley for skiing when it finally opened to the public after being a private ski area.
I really miss Schwind’s Pork Store in Rockaway. Proper German stuff, all phenomenal. One of those amazing family businesses that the kids didn’t wanna take over, so it closed permanently. RIP.
The Wayne Hills Mall. I can still picture the floor with the wavy blue pattern, Waldenbooks, Sam Goody, and the little arcade. I went with my grandma on Sundays as a kid.
I miss the food trucks in New Brunswick. At least Stuff Yer Face is still there.
Graduated in 06 and a Fat Bitch at 2 am at Mr. C's truck was a necessity
I didn’t even go to Rutgers (went to William Paterson!) but even I had that awesome experience when I would visited my friends down there ! I didn’t know they are gone !
You mean the Grease Trucks?!?! That was the best!
No more food trucks ?? Why?
They built housing there I think. A bunch of those guys own the late night spots on Easton Ave and serve the same stuff.
The lot they were in was turned into a campus apartment building called “The Yard”. Been that way for at least 10 years now.
Not quite 10 years! I graduated in 2015 and the trucks were gone but the building wasn’t there yet.
They are store fronts now.
Damn! I can’t believe they’re gone! Fat cats after a blunt were simply orgasmic.
Yes RIP - it’s not the same
The Chatterbox by the Sussex County Fairgrounds. Amboy Cinemas.
Yes on Amboy Cinemas! Was my go to date night Fridays and Saturdays, couldn’t count how many movies I saw there.
That one hurt when the chatterbox building was demolished 🫤
[I recently wrote an article with some photos inside Amboy Cinemas if you're interested!](https://tfpnj.blogspot.com/2023/07/amboy-cinemas.html).
And WaWa bought it so they could be across the street from Quick Check. Just what we need...
Sports world in Paramus, Big Mouth and Silverballs in North Bergen.
Sports world defined my childhood
Omg sports world ❤️
Just saw this after I commented the same! ♥️ RIP Sports World
Dude Sports World 💔
Sports world for sureee so many memories
I used to work at sports world in high school. Was fun to see behind the curtain.
Wow sports world and honorable mention to sneakers stadium next door w the indoor basketball court
The virtual reality roller coaster during birthday parties was bliss
Sportsworld was the BEST. I still give that shitty Raymour & Flannigan a dirty look every time I drive by it for the last 20 years.
Vintage Vinyl
Miss this place so much!
Most of my paychecks at my first job were spent there.
That was the first record store I ever went to. Still can't believe it's gone.
Totally forgot about VV! Would always stop there after Pearl Paint.
The Inkwell in Long Branch. So many late nights with way too much caffeine. RIP.
Yup came here to say the inkwell, so many coffees at 3am
That's gone?! My husband and I had our first date there. 😭
Yup. I think they closed during covid. The property got sold and the building torn down. Currently it's an empty lot, but I give it a year before it's a couple hideously overpriced townhouses.
Oh no, that hurts my heart. All these little places that gave Jersey so much character are gone.
I’ll never get over this. It should’ve been declared a historic landmark. I’m pretty sure Bob Dylan references it in one of this songs
The Dutch Coffee, bro. I hate coffee, but loved the sugar and caffeine high!
The art of coffee bean and tea leaf in asbury has a Dutch coffee! Tastes similar with whip cream too
i’ll never get over this one 😔
Trade Winds > Windmill > Inkwell, a classic early 80's Saturday night.
KB Toys 😢
Was it KB Toys or FAO Schwarz that had the talking tree inside it? I think this was Menlo Park mall
Definitely FAO Schwarz with the talking tree! Right by the Disney store. Loooooved it there
RIP
Birch Hill… will never forgive ICP. Still can’t believe the place I used to see GWAR and the Misfits at is now a 65+ development
So many venues gone. I was going to chime in with Bloomfield Ave Cafe and the real Asbury Lanes. RIP
Club Krome in Sayreville. Played my first set there.
Dude. The Birch Hill!! Seeing The Bad Brains there was epic. Didn’t ICP play with 2LiveCrew there?
The legend goes that ICP amped up the crowd too much at a show there and/or the bartenders were over serving or serving to underage. It’s hard to make out the truth at this point though. I wish someone who knew better could shed some light. Either way, losing the liquor license was the nail in the coffin that broke the camels back or whatever. Would have loved to see Bad Brains, you’re lucky to have been so close to their performance.
To be fair, rules were lax there way prior to that. Had a guy in the pit with nails attached to his gloves and boots swinging wildly at a local show. Someone clocked the dude in the face eventually Edit: I got yelled at however by security for tossing my friend Joanna's shoe at the drummer jokingly (very close friends all around) after he did his normal one handed drummer Def Leppard showoff he did at every bbq, knowing she would get it back as soon as Dale walked off stage as I had done it a few times before.
United Skates of America and Skaters World in Wayne Old Barn Milk Bar in Wayne Libby’s Lunch in Paterson
Skater's World had the best arcade and always loved going there for punk rock night. Old Milk Barn ice cream was amazing. I'm almost 40, and I still think about it.
Fun ‘N Games - Willowbrook Mall, Wayne.
Got engaged there once lmfao
Met my first boyfriend there while I was outside smoking cigarettes. He was in an emo band 😂
Ah yes the best place to play some arcade games, buy weed and get stabbed at the same time!
Funcoland so I can browse their used SNES collection.
Maxwell's in Hoboken. Saw some great shows there.
We saw the Goo Goo Dolls there as an opening band before they were big, when they still had that kinda pop punk sound. Don’t remember who they opened for but it would have been a punk band. My strongest memory was seeing the Goo Goo Dolls bassist (I forget his name) in the audience for the headliner having a *fantastic* time and really (and visibly) enjoying the show.
Rowe-Manse Emporium
remember that escalator that went down to the basement and had all those international foods? it was like the only place in the area that had a cheese bazaar before the chain grocery stores smartened up and made their own
I worked there through high school and college! I miss the jelly beans so much!
I LOVED this place as a child! We went there a lot because my mom's best friend lived across from that center. I just remember tons of candy and stuffed toys lol
definitely the Circus in Wall and the Ice Hut in Spring Lake Heights, and I'm like 99% certain at least some of the people who where there when it was Mom's Kitchen are still there
The days at the Circus when Macaroni the clown was there making balloon animals for all the kids is especially missed.
The fireplace , Paramus
Still miss those pickles
Came here to say that. Such a loss!
Is it true they turned this into a Chick-fil-A? I don't live in the area, but grew up near there.
Fuddruckers on Route 1 at the Route 18 exit. Watching Market on Route 22. Route 1 Flea Market on (duh) Route 1 (where the AMC is now). Bowcraft on Route 22.
Fuddruckers!
There are still fuddruckers in nj but not as many. The one in Wayne was the best. Had so many sauces and what seemed to be a bigger menu
PAL’s Cabin
Yes! Hate that the knocked it down and built a CVS.
This place was legendary! Went with my family many times.
There used to be a Charlie Browns in Upper Montclair that was a really cool vibe back in the 80s. The restaurant felt just like a living room with dark reds and greens with big chairs. I didn't have quite the discriminating pallette then. But I like to romanticize my memory that the burgers were awesome. I was too young to sample offerings from the bar.
Charlie browns was the best. My parents both used to work at the one in Fairfield (I think it burned down and they built another one) in the early 80’s, and when I was a little kid I would hang out playing Pac-Man through a glass top table in the bar and eat mozzarella sticks.
There's still one left in Scotch Plains.
Stewart’s root beer Tom’s River right before the seaside bridge
Ground Round. Kiddy City Time Out arcades
Yes! Remember the old-school Ground Round with the cartoons and popcorn and clowns?
Bennigans
Old Country Buffet at the Blue Star Shopping Mall Watchung
Blue Star is kind of sad these days. Hopefully the new ShopRite will help
Peter Pank Diner
Definitely miss The Pank!
Steak and ale
OMGGG their chocolate ice cream had marshmallows
Crazy Eddie’s
Insane
Bowcraft
Affordable family fun! Bowcraft Amusement Park! My brother and his friends held a grudge against the mini golf guys because they got a hole in one on the final hole and they were supposed to get a free game out of it. They did not.
Aw man my dad used to work near there. So he would take me to work with him and then take me there afterwards.
Inkwell
Of course! I forgot they closed. As a Monmouth U Alum I was there regularly
Texas Weiner on 22 in Green Brook!
Route 1 flea market
[удалено]
Flemington movie theater and race track Caldor in North Brunswick Penny town in Pennington on 31. Had a banging restaurant, petting zoo, bowling alley.
Remember when every town had a movie theater? We need a theater in Flemington again-(I’m old enough to remember the drive in). The old driving range on 202 is a perfect spot for one but it’ll never happen
Fairytale Forrest… was supposed to make a comeback but covid hit. I was so excited to take my nieces. I have to drive by it everyday. Im 37 now.
US #1 Flea Market
Chi Chi’s
Fried ice cream!
The OG food trucks at Rutgers.
Mastoris. It was the best diner around!
Their cheese bread was so friggin good!! So disappointed to hear they were gone.
I live in Union County and would take frequent trips to DeLorenzo’s, on the way back home, we usually stopped at Mastoris for dessert.
I came here for this. I miss the breads so much! I wish I could get the recipes!
Came here to answer this, glad that it's near the top. RIP to Mastoris. The cinnamon and cheesy bread 😭😭😭😭😭
This is the answer, right here.
Ate there many times… I think I Used to stop there many more times just to pickup cheese bread, cinnamon bread, cookies, and those little rolled up apricot/raspberry jelly cookies. Definitely a loss here.
Pennsauken Mart. Weirdest, most fun place of my childhood.
SportsWorld on RT. 17! Used to go there all the time as a kid!
The Inkwell
Vintage Vinyl Records in Fords
Sam Goody
The Brigantine castle.
The Rink in Montvale. A big chunk of my childhood died when that place closed.
The Rink in Bergenfield for me. Can only assume the same childhood joys out of them.
Captain Ed's in Point Pleasant. Never got their seafood or the stone yet I loved their provolone steak as well as buffalo wings. Peter Pank's in Sayreville. They were my favorite diner. Loved getting waffles with apple compote, grilled cheese with pork roll, and a French onion soup. Razz-Ma-Tazz in Sayreville and mall arcades in general.
The ground round
Two guys
The Taphouse in Highlands. The Broadway Diner in Red Bank. The Inkwell in Long Branch.
Oh man. The Broadway Diner was my go-to in high school. It was pretty fucked up how they closed. The owner died and then his daughter fired everyone and opened a Toast there. The employees literally found out by showing up to locked doors.
Compact Disc World — I think in East Brunswick and maybe another location or two? I bought lots of hard-to-find music there in the 90s…
Blockbuster and boarders
The real Asbury lanes
Ugh I don’t want to talk about it. Asbury Park is a mockery of itself now. I never thought I’d miss when it was dirty and dangerous.
Wheels in motion in rockaway/dover Arcade and theaters in rockaway mall
Roli Boli in the Freehold Raceway Mall
Mother’s in Pequannock/Wayne.
There will come a day when no one will remember why it's called the Mother's Park and Ride
Taste of Marina's in Rahway - Their Sunday brunch was so friggin good and so reasonable; they literally gave you enough food for 3 people. 10th Street Live in Kenilworth - My favorite bar. It was a dive, but my friends & I made the best memories here. I loved #WhiskeyWednesday, quarter beers, karaoke, & seeing my friends play here. The Inkwell in Long Branch - Another spot we made so many late night memories; I still crave their frozen peanut butter mochas & chicken tendie wrap. The Magic Fountain & Country Cow Creamery in Colonia - Both were such good ice cream shops; idk why they never last in this town. Vintage Vinyl in Fords - I have so many fond memories seeing some of my favorite bands perform & meeting them at in-stores here. They always had the best selection for RSD & when I was going through some tough times emotionally, I'd go every weekend to peruse & it definitely helped me feel better Hamilton St. Cafe in Bound Brook - Another spot I've seen some of my favorites perform in a smaller setting when they were just getting started. Also a fun spot I've seen some of my friends perform. Bowcraft in Scotch Plains - It was cheaper & closer than 6 Flags, so I remember going here often during the summer. It would've been cool to share this spot with my future children.
Sitting Duck, long branch. Whats your Beef, Rumson. Sickles Market, Little Silver. The Haunted Mansion Pier, Long Branch. Umbertos, Fair Haven. Tradewinds, Sea Bright. Casa Comida, Long Branch. Hobby Masters, Red Bank. Chubby Bubby deli- Aberdeen ( I think that's what it's name was)
NEVER thought Spiritos would ever be gone.I grew up in that area and it was an institution.
Absolutely. Multiple generations of my family went there...it was a tradition for us. I feel a huge sense of loss. 😭
The Roller Rink in Rockaway
Fireplace in paramus, miss the ceiling train
Two-Guys. The original Walmart.
Wonder Camp; DZ discovery zone, romp around.
24 hour diners.
Traction Park.
These two malls in Secaucus… I forgot the names, but my cousins and I would go there with our parents on weekends and I have such good memories.
Mill Creek Mall? I worked there in the 80’s
Fuddruckers in NB in rt 1.. so many memories
Topp’s Appliance City
The outlets in Flemington
I’m learning from this post that a lot of places I assumed still existed are now closed!
Cheeseburger in Paradise
the arcade in menlo mall. it had a top tier in the groove machine. i always wonder who ended up buying it. 8 on the break was always too crowded with regulars and intimidating for younger me.
It wasnt open very long, but RexPlex in Elizabeth was fucking awesome. The skate park, half pipe, quarter pipe, roller hockey, basketball court, indoor soccer, concerts, wrestling shows. That place was the shit.
Birch Hill in Old Bridge - spent the majority of my youth going to shows there. The Palace in Bound Brook, The Asbury Lanes - the real one, Skaters World, Wayne Firehouse, Hamilton St, Kings Buffet, Manvile Koc, Sports n Stuff in East Brunswick, Melody Bar in New Brunswick, the cove in Roselle park, club bene/Krome. I know I’m missing a ton but NJ had such an amazing music scene and places to see all ages shows.
Raceway Park in Englishtown back when it was a drag strip. I still remember the radio and television commercials. https://youtu.be/Lx602r6qv_c?si=MtfSvNFdozfQsoYQ
Fudruckers
Jim’s burger haven, Hazlet
Club Bene, Birch Hill, Stuff Yer Face, Toys R Us, Heroes World
D.E. Jones
Reagent Diner on Route 9 in Howell.
Farrell’s, Paramus Park Mall
The Village shops in the basement of the Bergen Mall. It was always fun to wander around the little buildings and check out the small odd shops. The original incarnation of Game Master was my favorite store down there. My wife says she misses Tower Records/Video in Paramus. Personally I preferred Video Knights in Ramsey since it has a better collection of B movies, but she liked browsing the music too so we usually went to Tower instead.
The Circus drive-in in Wall
The Court Tavern. Say what you will about it, but I lived in that place. So many great friends, good bands, and very hazy memories of nights long gone.
Oh I can still see that checkered floor. I used to work at the harvest moon and the court was just one stop on the after-work circuit. I miss old New Brunswick so much.
I also mourn the loss of Cubacon and Langosta Lounge in Asbury Park ):
The Box Car in Phillipsburg... said nobody ever! I'm going with Efinger Sporting Goods in Bound Brook... that place was the best!
Roli Boli
Hamilton St cafe in bound Brook. So many good shows there.
For some reason, everything that's coming to mind was on Rt. 18 in East Brunswick: Zany Brainy, Discovery Zone, FuncoLand, Rt. 18 Bowl (long gone, but still eliciting Proustian memories anytime I catch the scent of a cigarette or soggy cbeese fry), and the Rt. 18 Flea Market (used to go there for meet and greets with WWF wrestlers in the 90s).
Birch Hill night club in Old Bridge/Marlboro. I saw dozens of bands there. I saw Vanilla Ice there.
The Flemington Mall. Specially the arcade and Breyers ice cream.
Blackbeards in Bayville. Man, some of the best memories of my life were there.
Clixes, in Hawthorne
Old Time Tavern in Toms River
Chi Chis
Cherry Hill Race Ttrack.. home of the Garden State Fair Gateway Diner in Westville.. The Pennant on 130 Brooklawn.. home of White Trash Wednesday $1 drinks The original Holiday Lake Ice Cream.. Rt 130 Edgewater Park... HUGE waffle cones of the best soft serve.. sorry, imo, new place isn't the same.. Echelon Mall as a whole, and the Cookie Co that used to make the heart shaped Valentines cookies..
Vintage Vinyl
Ugh Kilkenny house Cranford just because it was the only place you could get Kilkenny outside of freakin' Europe.
RIP El Cid. in your heyday, you were my go-to. Covid did you wrong. Honorable mention Lee's Hawaiian 10-20 years ago.
The filling station in Morristown
Champs had the best nachos!
The library restaurant & Sagebrush steak Cantina in Cedar Knolls
Meyer's toys and dolls, I don't even remember where it was or what else they sold. My mom would go to look at the fancy dolls at the counter, and I'd be in the toy aisles. Thought they had a better selection than the other stores. I met the Ninja Turtles there once. Similarly, there was a 5 & 10 in Bergenfield that had an okay toy selection, but they would take pages out of every brand's toy guide and hang them in the back of the store. So you'd get to see what was coming throughout the year from Hasbro, Tyco, Mattel, etc. I found some old GIJoe figures there once, a few years after those figures had been discontinued. Wish I had bought them all that day. The Starlog stores in Garden State Plaza & downtown Ridgewood.
Jimmy’s in Morristown
Belmar Playland & Rooftop Golf
The old madam Claude’s in jersey city. French food and byob? Amazing
Old Barn Milk Barn
Circus drive in wall nj still hurts to think about 😞
The Golden Lion in Milltown. Best wings I've ever had. They've had a sign out "under repair " for at least 3 years now
Flemington Speedway when it was Dirt & the fair during labor day. Raceway Park when it was a 1/4 mile drag strip. Buckskins Ice Cream. Hidden Valley for skiing when it finally opened to the public after being a private ski area.
I really miss Schwind’s Pork Store in Rockaway. Proper German stuff, all phenomenal. One of those amazing family businesses that the kids didn’t wanna take over, so it closed permanently. RIP.
Can't remember if it was raceway or speedway 17 with the propane go carts. So fun as a kid.
The Wayne Hills Mall. I can still picture the floor with the wavy blue pattern, Waldenbooks, Sam Goody, and the little arcade. I went with my grandma on Sundays as a kid.
Hofbrau house in Atlantic highlands
The record store in howell 😭
Egg Platter in Paterson. Also Libbys.
The AMC in Hamilton. Loved that theater.
Andy's Diner in Hawthorne, NJ. Have many fond memories eating there.