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Storefront Archaeology

Thursday, July 9, 2009

sensfloris.jpg
Before there was World Wide Travel (soon to be the home of Little Shoebox, as we reported here) there was something else at this Valley Road location in Upper Montclair. Who remembers this sign? Reminisce in comments; it's your old-time open thread...

Posted by Liz George on July 9, 2009 12:00 PM
 

Comments (22)

One of my favorite things to do in the Summer is stopping at any lemonade stand in the neighborhood. The kids are always so proud and nothing brings back those lazy hazy crazy days of Summers past like cold lemonade on a hot afternoon.

Author Profile Page Iceman | July 9, 2009 12:15 PM | Reply
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Yes, lemonade stands are good and I'll make a purchase no matter whether it's the color of Mountain Dew or it's fresh-squeezed.

Author Profile Page Spot The Looney III | July 9, 2009 12:38 PM | Reply
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Jensens Florist sounds somewhat familiar.

Author Profile Page State Street Pete | July 9, 2009 12:57 PM | Reply
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Not too long ago, but damn I miss Carvel...

Author Profile Page profwilliams | July 9, 2009 2:07 PM | Reply
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I don't remember that florist and I've lived in Montclair for 38 years....but I do remember Hassler's Bakery a few doors down.

Author Profile Page gail | July 9, 2009 2:07 PM | Reply
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I miss Carvel, too. The location was perfect for a post-soccer game ice cream treat and had plenty of space to sit outside.

Any news on what's on tap for the former Red Cheetah space? Pourhouse! Pourhouse! Pourhouse!

Author Profile Page banana split | July 9, 2009 3:36 PM | Reply
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Applegates isn't that far from there.

Author Profile Page State Street Pete | July 9, 2009 3:47 PM | Reply
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I also miss Crazy Rhythm(s?) on Bloomfield Ave.

But then again, I miss vinyl.

Author Profile Page profwilliams | July 9, 2009 4:08 PM | Reply
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Yay, open thread!

Look what I found on the internet.

Pfft to plastic bag and leaf blower bans. One town in Austrailia has completely banned bottled water!

How much plastic would be saved every year if Baristaville did the same thing?

muah-ha-ha-ha! My Mathilda bait is in place... Now all there is to do is wait...

Oh, wait, did I type that? Good thing I've got a delete button right next to the "submit" macro I've setup on my keyboard...

Author Profile Page Generically named Mike | July 9, 2009 4:22 PM | Reply
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I drink gallons of pink lemonade in the summer. I love a nice cool glass while sitting at my backyard table. I always get the lemonade at Panera's.

Author Profile Page Nellie | July 9, 2009 5:38 PM | Reply
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Wow, the crazy, conservative (Obama voting), Right Winger, prof can't believe folks still use plastic bottles.

Do they?

A friend brought over a 24 pak of Poland Spring a few weeks back and I was like, what the hell is that? No, no. We got a bunch of reusables here.

Same with shopping bags.

Because despite all my huff, I live a life similar to the Goode family on ABC.

Author Profile Page profwilliams replied to comment by Generically named Mike | July 9, 2009 5:51 PM | Reply
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I am pretty sure it is Anderson's Florist... do I win a prize?

Author Profile Page laurel | July 10, 2009 8:07 AM | Reply
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I think it was a bank, no?

Author Profile Page Ricschwar | July 10, 2009 8:20 AM | Reply
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I remember this very well. I lived in the apartment upstairs (#604 Valley Rd)from OLSENS FLORIST. The bakery to the right was HASSLER's. It was owned by Richard and Mary Hassler and they had two sons. Dickie was the youngest and Walter was the oldest. Walter died at age 13 from a freak accident while playing with a chemical kit with Dickie. We all played together as children. The Hasslers owned the building we lived in and were our landlords. The last time I visited Upper Mtc. our old apartment was still the dance studio. Does anyone know if that is still so?

As I remember that block of Valley Road starting at the bank (my mother worked there for many years) next was Olsens Florist, then WW Travel but that was a boutique before that, don't remember the name. The entrance to our apartment was between the travel agency and Hasslers. There were only two apt. upstairs. We lived in one (the windows you see above Olsens) and the other was an artist, Victor Trent who lived with his longtime companion who was actually a black woman. I always laugh at knowing this since Upper Mtc. during my youth prided itself on being all white town. Then Hasslers bakery, then a small children's clothing store (name slips me) a little grocery store owned by two brothers and again the name slips me. the barber shop, a drug store (maybe Mullers?) Another dress shop called Alex's, Chapmans and finally the Olympic Shop. I may have a few things mixed up there but I am positive about Hasslers and Olsens.

When we were kids, Olsen would call our mom when we were off school to complain we were making too much noise running around in our apartment. Being bratty kids, we would add a few jumps in then.

Anderson Florist was located on the corner across from Bonds. Next door to the Beauty Boutique where I worked for several years. When my grandmother retired sold her house/shop on Bellview Ave #202, (it was a dress shop as well, called Madame Marguerite) Anderson Florist bought it and moved their business there.

My sister Doris sent me to this site. I am the family member either blessed or cursed with a head full of old trivia. We spent much of our childhood on that block and played with other 'apt' kids from the neighborhood. There was an old fellow named John who drove an ice truck. John would deliver ice to Valley Sea Food store daily in the summer (winter too I guess) and give all of us kids a ride and a big chunk of ice. He was a big part of our day in the summer. Life was simpler then LOL.

Author Profile Page egilmore | July 11, 2009 11:26 AM | Reply
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Thank you so much egilmore! I love your story. Thats so great that you wrote it here. Baristanet s the best repository for local history that we have! Was the men's shop on the corner called Bragg & Son's? I still have some ties and jackets from them. (It must be some other name because the lables say Montclair, not Upper Montclair) I also remember a lady friend of my parents Eve Plumb who was a designer and had a purple colored shop in a Victorian house. Luvis's is still there and I love to go for grilled cheese sandwiches. I'm happy that Joan Hoonhout, expert Montclair Realtor is still practicing. She knows so much about local houses and history. I'm looking all over for a photo that I have of the "Trunk Building". Its the funniest looking building thats shaped like a big old trunk.

Author Profile Page frankgg | July 11, 2009 12:03 PM | Reply
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I was probably thinking of Geismar - Kaplan.

Author Profile Page frankgg | July 11, 2009 4:39 PM | Reply
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I think the florist you were speaking of was Smith Florist.
Great memory!! Keep them coming!

Author Profile Page montclairgirl | July 11, 2009 5:03 PM | Reply
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Yup, you're right, I did mean Smith's Flowers. Don't know how Anderson popped into my head. Smith Flowers purchased my grandmother's house at 202 Bellview Ave. Is it still there?

I seem to remember the Olympic Shop being in a couple of different places along the block. Weren't they in the corner building across from St. James for a while? was the where Geismar Kaplan was?

I remember Luvis' as well. Mrs. Luvis and Mary used to make all those fabulous chocolates during all the holidays. YUM! Lemperts was another favorite place to go when we were kids. You could buy penny candy there. We turned in lots of soda bottles to get the pennies to buy candy. I can still see old Mrs. Lempert behind the candy counter.

There used to be a house in what is now the parking lot behind the Laudromat on Bellview. It was kind of run down and spooky. An old guy lived there. I don't remember there being a wife or kids, just him. I think he may have collected junk and sold it. Does anyone remember who he was?

I too remember Vera Plumb's house, it was a bridal shop. Many of us got our wedding dresses there. It was just a few doors down from my grandmother's house.

Author Profile Page egilmore | July 11, 2009 9:03 PM | Reply
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In the early 60's, before Geismer-Kaplan, I believe the that location was known as Perillo's. I was very young, so my memory of the name may be wrong. But I do know that it was owned by a man name Mr. Perillo because he lived across the street from us in Glen Ridge.

Author Profile Page s2007 | July 11, 2009 9:47 PM | Reply
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It was Perillos and left of Perillos was a bookstore on Valley, then Markers Bakery. An Antique store was left of the bakery owned by William Berry. Then of course the Firehouse. Was there a business between the antique store and the firehouse?

A very cool piece of the past died with 5 & 10 stores. Are the present dollar stores suppose to be the same? Maybe but certainly they don't have the same air about it.

Of course we all shopped close to home in the 50's & 60 (pre-mall) and all these business thrived. I'm not a nostalgic by any means, I love the progress of today and look forward to the US finally becoming a green country. I do believe that will happen. A recent trip to Germany reminded me of how much heart beat a small town can have. The people of Germany keep their little towns alive and support their local business. Something we in the US would do well to do again. You see windmills and solar everywhere throughout Europe, but that's another conversation.

Author Profile Page egilmore | July 12, 2009 7:54 AM | Reply
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The Cheese Shop was next to the firehouse. It was there for many years. Now it is a sandwich shop

Author Profile Page s2007 replied to comment by elaine cooper gilmore | July 12, 2009 9:07 PM | Reply
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You mentioned Markers Bakery in Upper Montclair. I was wondering if anyone knows if there are an family members living in the area that might be holding onto the family recipes for the bakery. I have to say they were the best in this area by far. Their chocolate eclairs were stuffed with the best pastry creme and the chocolate glaze was smooth and glistening not like the crumbly hard glaze on most now a days. They had outstanding jelly donuts and buns for Sunday morning breakfast. Does anyone remember?

Author Profile Page funtimelady replied to comment by elaine cooper gilmore | September 3, 2009 10:53 AM | Reply
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