Now That's Cold

Sure hope so.

"There's NO ice cream like HARD ice cream, the BEST ice cream I know...."

I see...u like your ice cream like your men

LOL, Ice! :-)

In fact, ice cream has gotten me through times of no men, better than men have gotten me through times of no ice cream. Or something like that.

We lost Emacks, now Carvel. Soon all we'll have left is Coldstone, that bastion of rich, vain, cloying children.

Miss Martta

Is Applegate's still serving?

Applegate is always serving!

The list of dearly departed ice cream parlors got me thinking. . anybody old enough to remember Batchmakers? Used to go there in high school. Not bad, but nowhere as good as Grunnings (which really dates me, I guess -- my dad used to take me there whenever HE wanted ice cream.) I almost cried when it (and then the one in South Orange) closed. To this day, I have never tasted choclate chip ice cream that tasted as good.

I grew up in Caldwell and yes, we had a Grunings! Awesome ice cream and one of the only places I knew that made lemnon ice cream, NOT lemon ice, but lemon ice cream!

I remember Batchmakers!

OMG - having a flashback to evenings at Somethings Different listening to a local band, then browsing at the cats pajamas before heading to Batchmakers for ice cream and candy.

I remember the cat's pajamas, too. Used to poke around there and also a decent vintage clothing store across from a skateboard shop in either Montclair or Bloomfield. . .

Miss M,
I moved to Caldwell my senior year of high school and have fond memories of Grunings....real fountain soda and ice cream.

Ice: Did you graduate from James Caldwell?

Ha! I worked at Cat's Pyjamas! In the beginning, I ran the mail order biz and then time was split between the catalog and the boutique.

I remember Grunnings in South Orange.

Oh, how I miss that vintage clothing shop that was on The Avenue. Can't recall the name.

Anyone remember Melissa's Hair Fixer Upper? She used to advertise on the Uncle Floyd show.

Anyone know when Wood's Dairyland is reopening?

may i recommend Uncle Bob's in Cedar Grove? they are pretty good...

I remember Melissa the hair fixer upper!

Batchmaker's was THE BEST-pumpkin-anything with peanutbutter-YUM-it was the Cold Stone of the eighties only better-much better.

Something Different!

--gotta go put on the Waitress' "Christmas Wrapping" -I still miss the Cat's Pyjammas-I wish I could walk down Church Street one more Christmas as it was...one year I actually mannaged Haine's Christmas Trim a Tree-

Time flies!

Cstarling! Thanks for the memories of "Christmas Rapping!" I, too, remember Cats Pyjamas...what a cool store. Very unique gifts and off-the-beaten path greeting cards and stationery.

Does anyone know why they left Church Street?

Ah, the Cat's Pajamas. I remember going on a first date with a girl that I had met, ironically enough, at Carvel in West Caldwell (she went on to work at the Bellevue Ave store as well). I managed to talk her into accompanying me to Hahnes to pick out a birthday present for my older sister. Afterwards, we wondered into the Cat's Pajamas and while I was kneeling down beside her looking at cards, she put her hand on my shoulder and it was.... well... like nothing I had ever felt before. Young and self-absorbed I did not realize it then but I fell in love with her. That was a lifetime ago. Actually, two lifetimes as we have two beautiful children.

No one mentioned memories of Bonds. Used to be on just south of Bellevue Ave on Valley Road across from the CVS (now a bank). It had a HUGE milk shake cup on top of it. Now, there is only one place for our ice cream delights: Holsten's!!!!

Bonds_AWFUL AWFUL-Right? Now that was a great place family place -David what a cool story! That touch,,,yes I remember the one that makes you lose your kness.

Hahnes -who needs to be able to spell out your place of employment anyway...I am going to go look and see if that English BA isn't from an online college.

And I know only rumor about Cat's PJ's --they had one in Morristown too-and a catalogue business, as well, but then it may have just run it's course.

Fond memories of both Bonds & Grunnings. What I loved the most about Bonds was getting the little sherbet cup with you cheeseburger - and for some reason they had the greatest pickel chips!

Grunnings - best hot fudge and real vanilla ice cream with real whip cream.

Although Holsteins is a very close second.

Hahnes!

You guys are killing me today with the nostalgia!

My first date took me to the Clairidge for an afternoon movie - then to Hahnes for tea and pie.

Miss M,
Graduated from JCH in '69...go Chiefs

Re: the end of Cat's Pyjamas--It was circa 1992, Gulf War malaise, economic recession AND Montclair redid the sidewalks on Church Street which made it virtually impossible for people to enter the stores. They did come in droves for the closeout sales.

There were two other stores; Florida and Woodbridge, NJ.

Me in '75!

Where is Holsteins?

Broad and Watchung in Bloomfield.

(this is my first post ever so don't know if this is even gonna work!)

but... for those of you who like Holsten's, could you tell me what you think of their service? We had to stop going because we think they are so rude! I've had bad service before at plenty places but really, they are my #1 pick for bad/unfriendly service. Just kinda ruins my happy, yummy feeling of going for ice cream.

I just don't get it.

We're fine with Applegate, Rita's, TCBY, and the occasional drive by McDonald's 99 cent cone (gasp!)

I, personally, never had a problem with their service. I guess it depends what time/day you go. Obviously, you might have worse service on a Friday or Saturday night than on a weekday night. It CAN get kind of zooish in there at times (lots of noisy kids!) but the ice cream more than makes up for it.

MomOf2
We have never experienced rudeness at Holsten's. Occasionally, we have had to wrestle with the speed of the service but never any rudeness. There are some there that I could tell may very well be rude but I've never personally experienced anything less the cordial.

I had forgotten about Gruning's and Batchmakers. What a blast from the past. I worked at the Clairidge for years, and >lived

I swear we have this same discussion about ice cream every few months.

Other recent ice cream chats...
http://www.baristanet.com/barista/2005/06/slow_stone.html

http://www.baristanet.com/barista/2005/06/how_rumors_get__1.html

http://www.baristanet.com/barista/2005/04/licking_rita.html

Pete...one can never have too much shrimp or champagne. Has there ever been a champagne thread?

I scream, you scream we all scream for ice cream......

Re Holstein's- I haven't patronized them very often, but recently I went there to pick up an ice cream cake for my son's birthday. I walked out, got in the car, looked at the cake-- they had misspelled my son's name, which turned out to be a GOOD thing because when I went back in I also asked them whether it was the medium cake I had paid for-- no, it turns out they gave me a SMALL cake.

The girl who waited on me that day was not the brightest crayon in the box-- the older man seemed exasperated with her. They weren't rude, but weren't overly pleasant either.

"I glow, you glow, we've all been drinking Veuve Clicquot!"

Holsteins- I would not disgree that service can be rude- maybe not rude exactly- more not very friendly. And yes they are so slow. I do admit thought that the ice cream is wonderful and so are the homemade chocolates.

I guess it reminds me so much of a Norman Rockwell painting that I continue to patronize despite the lackluster service.

I definately see other posters point though. I personally have never been bowled over with friendliness at Applegates either. (but do agree the ice cream is good)

For ice cream cakes, I go to the grocery store and get a Carvel or Applegate (Kings) cake and have the bakery put a name on it.

Personally, I just prefer a half gallon from my freezer.

Hello all Champagne lovers!

Send this message to 10 people, with a copy to champagne@veuve-clicquot.fr

Veuve Clicquot France will contact you in order to deliver to you a case of champagne in three weeks. They are producing a database and require email details.

It does work and you receive 6 bottles in 15 days.

Regards.

(L'abus d'alcool est dangereux pour la sante.)

Malheureusement, c'est un canular (it's a hoax- an Urban legend)

can't they buy the emails we sent to Blll Gates in early 2000 for his database....love those hoaxes

Just went by Carvel's. The sign is depressing in person.

my children and all our friends and i became big fans of the daily soup ice cream shop near watchung plaza over the summer. i think they serve ice cream with their cool blending machine from memorial day to labor day or thereabouts, and then switch back to soups. the ice cream was delicious, they were always friendly, and it was simply never crowded the way that coldstone creamery always was. also, that whole 'singing for a tip' thing creeps me out completely.

How you feeling Fran?

Fran - I completely agree with the singing thing. I've NEVER seen it have any other effect than awkward eye-shifting/floor-staring by patrons. I even tried to tip them on the condition that they wouldn't sing, but no go.

Any Adolescent Psych 101 student can tell you that a huge developmental component of that age (the age of most, if not all, of the Cold Stone employees) is that they are embarassed by ANYTHING.

I suppose it is a choice, but again, at that age, do they have many options? There's a thing that they do in lots of ice cream places on Cape Cod for tips that I like a bit more. They have a bin for tips upon which all of the schools where the employees go are written graffiti-style. They place the bin on the counter with a sign that says something along the lines of "Where we're headed." I've seen every school from Princeton to Barstable High listed, so it's not some "Look where I go to school!" thing.

If I want to hear singing, there are plenty of places I'd rather go to than Cold Stone Creamery.

If anyone wants to trek up to Bergen county, there is Bischoff's Ice Cream Shop on Cedar Lane in downtown Teaneck. Similar to Holstens. They also have lots of candy, burgers, etc.

My wife however, is addicted to Applegate Farms.

Ah, Bischoff's. I grew up in Teaneck,and Bischoff's is a legend. 'Tis said that the King of England used to have Bischoff's ice cream delivered to his New York hotel suite.

Are you sure the For RENT sign isn"t for one of the offices behind Carvel?

The Daily Soup's transformation to the Daily Scoop during the summer was genius! and yummy -- not as goopy or cloying as Cold Stone, either.

Carvel was doomed the minute they decided to never clean the place (maybe it was, technically, clean -- but it didn't give off that impression, eh?)

Why are you bashing all the merchants in Upper Montclair. Did you ever hear of holiday cheer? It seems to be the only places that you will give a star too are your personal friends, Carvel was there for my family and children for years, I think it is completly unnessesary. You should go back to NY Times one less rat in the rat race.

The Daily Soup summer ice cream blending machine deal was definitely awesome.

I will always love the asthetic of Apple Gates, especially in warm weather, plus their special flavor, "Graham Central Station" is AMAZING.

And you also can't beat The Soda Pop Shop for ambiance & kitsh factor, not to mention all the awesomely creative concoctions. I personally am partial to the Elvis Presely peanut butter and banana parfait.

Sorry to see Carvel go, but what is wrong with cold stone, thier ice cream is really good that is why the place is always crowded, and so what that they sing when you tip, i think it is kinda cool. It is thier way of saying thank you for tipping them for the service they provided for you, unlike anywhere else when you throw a tip in the tip jar most times you do not even get a thank you.

Yes, I almost forgot about Soda Pop Shop and its awesome decor.

I for one am sorry to see Carvel go, if that's really what the sign is all about... my kids love the cakes and most of the time it's a lot easier to stop there for a vanilla shake than trying to navigate the mayhem at Applegate's. Guess this means we aren't ice cream connoisseurs, given all the comments here.

Girl - do I understand you right about the grocery store, that the bakery will write a message on a cake from the freezer?? A great idea! Thanks for the tip - there won't be any disappointed little birthday kids at my house after all.

I found Cold Stone too "candy sweet" for my tastes (hence why kids love it). I miss Emac, or any place that serves Coconut Almond ice cream (makes a great base for an "Almond Joy" sundae, just add hot fudge sauce!).

Has anyone been by to read the sign?

Boy, would I feel bad if Carvel is really leaving. Talk about nostalgia. I worked there for many, many years in and just after college. I decorated the ice cream cakes, and even won a national "Carvel Cake Decorating" award. It was the best job ever, and I worked with and for some fantastic people.
In fact, if it weren't for Carvel, I wouldn't be where I am now. I met Raymond here (he was a line cook at Evergreen, and would come in for ice cream sometimes)and we became friends. The rest is history.
I have lots of memories of the downtown then. A friend worked at Cat's Pyjama's, and through her got to know Melissa (Hair Fixer-Upper). I helped paint the salon and silkscreened t shirts for her. The vintage store was Boomerang, and was owned by a friend of my then-roomate. We went to the opening party, and they had a live rockabilly band playing in the window. Wow, thanks for the trip down memory lane!

Boomerang! Thanks, Joanne, from another Church Street Irregular.

Speaking of Memory Lane, does anyone remember Mike Peniston, proprietor of the old Church Street Bake Shoppe? Not only could you get coffee and baked goods there, Mike offered free advice on your love life! :-)

Wow, haven't seen Mike from the Bake Shoppe in ages. Even after the store closed, he would still make an appearance on the boulevard.

well the subject of ice cream always gets people in a good mood. I remember Grunnings so talliewoo, you are not the only one. I used to ride my bike up to Bonds and have one of their famous Awful Awful's. Coffee was my favorite. My dad has one of their big cups down in his basement still. Holstens is still number one with me. I remember when they made their famous butter crunch ice cream. Does any one else remember it. Now I am dating myself !!

"I decorated the ice cream cakes, and even won a national "Carvel Cake Decorating" award."

Joanne,
I think I remember that cake. Didn't you do the Mona Lisa in icing?

Jessica

Jessica,

Yes, that was it!! I can't believe anyone remembers! You made my day.

I bought my prom dress at Boomerang! I loved that store.

Have to second latebloomer's comment on Bischoff's in Teaneck. Great ice cream. I also grew up in Teaneck (THS 76)and spent a lot of Friday nights there with my friends.

Glad to know I am not the only one creeped out by the singing for tips thing at Coldstone, although I like the ice cream. Don't like Applegate's as much as I used to...too many long lines. Maybe I am just getting crochety in my old age.

Batchmaker's used to put gumballs in the bottom of their waffle cones to prevent leaks. That was pretty solid. My mom used to work at Gruning's and says it was STILL the best job she ever had.

Damn the man, I can't stand either Coldstone or Maggie Moo's. The wait's too long and they have that annoying penchant for singing that infects Applebee's and other chains.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE MONTCLAIR COMMUNITY FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS. WE NOW HAVE "CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRY" ICE CREAM FOR VALENTINES DAY.

how can anyone be surprised by Carvel closing?...the place was filthy and the building looked like it was going to cave-in. I never felt comfortable in the store and got the feeling nobody really cared.

how can anyone be surprised by Carvel closing?...the place was filthy and the building looked like it was going to cave-in. I never felt comfortable in the store and got the feeling nobody really cared.

how can anyone be surprised by Carvel closing?...the place was filthy and the building looked like it was going to cave-in. I never felt comfortable in the store and got the feeling nobody really cared.

how can anyone be surprised by Carvel closing?...the place was filthy and the building looked like it was going to cave-in. I never felt comfortable in the store and got the feeling nobody really cared.

how can anyone be surprised by Carvel closing?...the place was filthy and the building looked like it was going to cave-in. I never felt comfortable in the store and got the feeling nobody really cared.

how can anyone be surprised by Carvel closing?...the place was filthy and the building looked like it was going to cave-in. I never felt comfortable in the store and got the feeling nobody really cared.

how can anyone be surprised by Carvel closing?...the place was filthy and the building looked like it was going to cave-in. I never felt comfortable in the store and got the feeling nobody really cared.