Was the Fotomat Hut in Caldwell Worth Saving? (Poll)
Structure at corner of Bloomfield and Park avenues was removed by owners last week without warning.
Photos
The longtime vacant Fotomat hut in Caldwell was torn down last week, sparking a debate about whether the structure was an icon or an eyesore.
The kiosk built by the Fotomat retail chain, a now defunct same-day-photo-developing business, stood empty for decades in a parking lot at the corner of Bloomfield and Park avenues that serves a butcher shop.
Icon?
Caldwell Mayor Ann Dassing called it an "icon" and said there had been discussions about moving it to another location in the borough.
Dassing is not alone in wanting to preserve this piece of photo-finishing history. A Facebook page exists, albeit with a modest 42 fans, that features Fotomat facts, photographs and advertisements, as well as a map of kiosks around the country.
Eyesore?
Former Fotomat huts around the country have been turned into other businesses, including convenience stores and key copying shops.
But the Caldwell kiosk has served little purpose for decades with the exception of being a place to post flyers advertising meat sales, as well as concerts and other community news.
So what do you think? Was the kiosk an icon, a little part of Caldwell history that could have been preserved, or an eyesore? Take the Patch Poll.
Michael
9:42 am on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
I would have liked to have it for my backyard.
unrealreality
9:42 am on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
It had its day. As cool a concept as it was, it's best left to live in photos now (the irony!)
I remember there being a kiosk like this in the Bergen Mall. That's clearly gone now.
LindaSue
1:46 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
There was a short time when it was used to sell tickets to local events in NY and NJ. I think it should have been saved. It could have been used for the sidewalk sale and street fair for the Rotary to sell 50/50s at least. It would have been nice to have public dialogue about it BEFORE it was taken down.
anthony j. popola
1:46 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
much ado about nothing....
bbbnto
1:46 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
This was making the downtown area look lousy.
Anthony Torrioni
1:46 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Note, I'm biased - I worked at a Fotomat Store in Boston many years ago. If the hut still had a Fotomat sign, that would be more iconic or if it could at least had someone doing something inside it every now and then such as selling tickets to local events, etc. then saving it would have been a good idea. Unfortunately no one had much vision for its possible uses.
Hank
8:13 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
The price of progress
Ron Albanese
8:51 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013
I say it was an icon ... the Fotomat booths are true Americana, and moreover, this "uptown" example (the area was called that for decades until it became "downtown") actually did serve a purpose from time to time highlighting various local institutions' efforts and the like - I recall Girl Scouts' artwork hanging in/on it, a notice about an upcoming town event, etc. So, it was utilized a bit, but enough to stop a business from razing it? I'm not sure.
Then again, much like the "Flintstone Bank" at the corner of Central and Bloomfield, structures like this add character to the area.
I personally would have sought a way to keep it, and infuse it into a remodel or something. I also liked the lot around it, which added space to that corner and that part of up/down-town as well.
Cj
11:50 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013
I guess if you lived here awhile that booth kind of meant something. The newer people probably think it was not the best. I just feel this whole new building being built is going to be much worse then the Fotomat was. Just wait . Just watch how Park and Bloomfield become a parking lot
Kip Wright
11:50 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013
I used to sell beepers out of that kiosk in the mid 80`s !!!!!
Cj
11:59 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013
I think I remember that Kip
bbbnto
1:16 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
CJ, I've been in Caldwell almost 40 years. For the last 15 years or so, that booth has been an eyesore. The glass was broken, and the booth was full of junk. How can it mean something? That and he fact that it was on PERSONAL PROPERTY is to me, the perogative of the owner whether or not to keep it. But let's suppose he fixed it up...then what? What would it be used for?
Also, there are two more comments that you made: "...The newer people probably think it's not the best". Huh? It was in my opinion, an eyesore.
"Just watch how Park and Bloomfield become a parking lot" IT IS A PARKING LOT. Now at least, people can easily manuever their cars. I've seen people parking there and it was very difficult to park and move around.
CJ, I think your heart is, and has always been in the right place, but I have to respectfully disagree with you on this one.
LookinOutLady
11:39 am on Sunday, January 27, 2013
I totally agree! How many times I went to Vila Meats and had a heck of a time manuevering my car because the lot was small and the kiosk was just in the way. There are better uses for $$$ than to fix it up as an "icon" for the town. If someone fixed the little structure up and actually used it for a unique business, that would be another story.
Cj
1:51 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
bbbnto
They say they are making the building bigger towards Bloomfield Ave. There will be no parking and then Park and Bloomfield will be a nightmare
gregory l. mitchell
10:00 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Ron Albanese,your comment is very interesting.That is as far back as the 1940's up to some point the business section(Bloomfield Ave.)of town was always referred to as"UPTOWN" never downtown,I really don't know when that term came into play,but thought it very interesting that you too commented on it.I was beginning to think that my family were the only ones to do so.IN FACT WE STILL DO!Old habits are hard to break.Lol,Lol..Now regarding the new bldg.I feel it's extremely good looking and will only compliment the "UPTOWN"area. Respectfully,Gregory L.Mitchell,W.Caldwell
LindaSue
8:06 am on Wednesday, March 27, 2013
I agree that the new building looks like it will improve the image of the town.
Ron Albanese
8:57 am on Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Hey, Gregory - YES! It's not a huge thing to get hung up on, but the whole area was totally established as being "Uptown" for multiple generations. The folks involved with trying to revitalize the Bloomfield Avenue area (and I completely back them and appreciate the efforts!) made an oversight in calling it "Downtown" - it doesn't even work geographically (ha ha)! I feel it sends a mixed message: "that was then, this is now." Or: "we wanna be like other towns."
Caldwell is not Westfield, etc. and it's cool in its own way - let's celebrate the best the of the past, and build on it.
And, speaking of which, I still miss the Fotomat building, but yeah - to best utilize that lot, I suppose it had to go.
Hey, Caldwell trivia people: is this the first construction done Up/Downtown done in like, decades? I think so!
Good discussion!
LindaSue
7:52 am on Thursday, March 28, 2013
The Caldwell Seafood Building is relatively new. I'm not sure when but I think in the last 15 years.
Cj
9:02 am on Wednesday, March 27, 2013
I don't know about anyone else but when I go shopping in Caldwell I am going uptown. I also think the building is beautiful but they allowed it to be built to big. It is going to tower over buildings on each side. I was looking the other day and nothing over there is that high next to it. I can even image the traffic. They will be parked all over Park Ave. Just imagine the contruction. Better find another route if you take Park.
Ron Albanese
2:14 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013
CJ: Awesome! "Uptown" lives! I too was a little thrown by the scale of the new building; it's a little beyond the scale of others in the area, and being on the corner will serve to make that particular corridor seem "tighter" on Bloomfield ... as for parking, yeah, I guess Park will be more filled up!