More Memories of My Neighborhood - The Bars

Bars, now I'm starting to remember some of the local taverns around my old neighborhood. We had Stanley's Tavern, Top Road Tavern, The Polish Falcons, Duffy's on Pine St., and Cappy's on Brunswick Ave. Mulberry Street had a number on bars that were always crowded due to the pottery workers in the area. I remember Stanley's Tavern opened up at 6:00 a.m. for those guys who wanted a shot and beer before work. On hot summer evenings, usually a Saturday, my Dad took Mom and me to the back ladies room of Stanley's, they drank a few brews and I had Coke in a beer glass with a bag of chips or a hot dog from Stanley's hot dog oven. Man in those days that was living.

When I came home on leave from the service my buddy Jack and I would go to Stanley's for a few beers. A long neck glass of beer was 25 cents a glass, and a five dollar bill went a long way for the both of us. Those days are gone, except in one's memory of what use to be. If anyone out there remembers some more taverns, please post your thoughts. Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

Some More Brunswick Ave. Places I Remember

Mack does a great job on his blog with the ability to take pictures of the familiar places in the "Burg". It's fun reading the posts and every ones comments. I would have to depend on Google Earth to send you a picture. I just recalled some more places near my old neighborhood and maybe some of you will remember them also.

The Brunswick Theater
Cassianni's Tomato Pies right across the street from the Brunswick Theater
Top Road Barber Shop
Dale's
Before McDonald's there was a Pix's by the Circle Bowling Alley
Brunswick Hardware, they carried all the fishing supplies one could ask for
Columbus School, we use to play baseball there in the summer
Mercer Savings and Loan, the official Polish bank
There was a small Chinese restaurant next to Top Road Barber Shop, China Garden, not really sure that was the name
Rose's Top Road Woman's Shop, the hottest fashions south of Olden Avenue

Princeton Avenue had a number of small businesses, but to recall their real names is making my brain hurt right now. If any come to mind, I'll let you know. Have a nice evening everyone and remember sign on as a follower.

Places I Remember on Brunswick Ave.

Some of the places I remember, across the street from our house was Ed's Esso Station and Garage, one honest mechanic, the other great mechanics were the Reither Brothers on Spruce and Princeton St. We had Willett's 5 & 10 Store, Deal's Camera Shop, there was an appliance store on the corner of Brunswick and Olden, I think it was City Line Appliance. A Jewish Deli owned by 2 brothers, the name eludes me now. Drs. Franzoni, Rexall Drug Store, a dentist Dr. Greenwald, Brunswick Drug Store with its soda and ice cream fountain, John's Barber Shop, right next door to me, Stanley's Tavern on the corner of Brunswick and Myrtle St., and the Food Fair on the next block. Across the street from that was the Pine St. Drug store. Who could forget Top Road Tavern, best fish and chips on a Friday. I remember going their at lunch time to place an order and at 5 p.m. when my father came home, running over to pick the order up, cost $1.25 a platter. Their pizza was and I hear it's still out of this world. There were more bars and stores, if anyone can remember, please post. If I remember more, I'll be back.

Have a great evening.

My Old Neighborhood

As I said, I grew up in the Polish section of North Trenton, basically known as the St. Hedwig's area. My parents lived near the corner of Brunswick Ave. and Spruce St. Growing up in that area I had a lot of fun. As a boy we played baseball at the Food Fair Parking lot after it closed, using sponge balls we bought for a quarter at Willett's 5 & 10. Road our bikes around the blocks, flipped baseball cards, played Catch 5 and in the summer always lighting up those punks we found growing near the Farmer's Market swamps.

I attended St. Hedwig's grammar school, I was an altar boy at the parish, played basketball for St. Hedwig's and just grew up enjoying myself in that neighborhood.

I'm running out of room on this comment, so I'll be naming some of the familiar places I remember in the neighborhood. Readers please feel free to post your comments and maybe we can get a good thing going.

Calling All Polaks or Those Who Wish They Were

I was chatting with Mack this morning and he mentioned how the Polish neighborhood of North Trenton, where I grew up is still flourishing with traditions. There has been an influx of new immigrants to the neighborhood and it's my understanding it's thriving once again. I remember what it was like when I was growing up and and the differences when I moved away.

I'll throw some things out and if any readers would like to comment on their views please do. All I can say is "Let's see what happens". I'll title this one "Polska na zawsze" or "Poland Forever".