Grunnings was a very special ice cream treat growing up. Armella S. Kent, beloved first grade teacher in Roseland, our Aunt Mollie - would bring fresh peach ice cream to our summer Kent picnics. That may be her car parked in front of Grunnings. Ah - fond memories indeed. Thanks for posting these photos of Gene Collards.

My first job at 16. Loved that place. Yes the ice cream was great. The best Vanilla and Cherry cokes. All the kids hung out after school. You had to spend 50cents to sit in a booth or you got kicked out. It was so much fun working there.

Remember it well!!Note the small alcove to right of doors.That's where we used to step up onto to hang out,until Caldwell's finest would roll on by es tell us to move-I can't imagine that happening today!!Notice the old trolley tracks,complete with cobble stones too.Look closely,NO PARKING METERS! Respectfully,Gregory L.Mitchell,West Caldwell

We would go after school and have cherry cokes and french fries! They had the best
coffee chip ice cream. They're California burgers were delicious. Miss the old times.
Nancy

I wrote yesterday about Grunings. Does anyone remember the Park Theater?
I worked there at the candy counter. What fun!!
Nancy Adams (Hofele)

Hy'a Nancy:I most certainly remember the Park Theater.Growing up we would go to the Saturday Matinees that were an Abbott & Costello comedy and a Western with 4 or 5 cartoons,all for .25 or .50 cents,certainly no more.This was well before the days of ratings-they weren't necessary as our society was more humane then compared to today.I would always buy a box of "juicy fruits" for the shows.Perhaps you sold me the candy or popcorn Nancy??I do remember the huge fire that destroyed the place in 1972 or so as well.The heat in that fire was so intense that the large I-beams were twisted and sagged like taffy.The rubble remained in place for 3 or 4 years before it was cleaned and the bank was built on the corner of Blmfld Ave & Forest Ave.Now Nancy,remember the Theater legend-"ANGIE"? Respectfully,Gregory L.Mitchell-West Caldwell

Sure I was friends with carol. Her father parker Teed owned it. It burnt down in 1974

Hy'a Cj:Thank you for the correction on the year of the Park Theater fire.I believe it happened on the week-end if my memory is correct.The inside foyer was long and sloped uphill with upcoming movie posters behind glass doors on both sides.Yes,I neglected to mention Parker Teed the owner.Also how about the Park Sweet Shoppe right on the corner as well?Now the Theater is located where our old bowling alley stood.Those alleys were not automated and used "pin boys" to reset the pins!!This was well before "Bell-aire Lanes" down on Passaic Ave.& Clinton Rd. How things do change,in the words of the late Bob Hope;"Thanks for the memories" Respectfully,Gregory L.Mitchell,West Caldwell,GCHS-'58

I didn;t know the Park Sweet Shoppe or the bowling alley. Do you remember the Grand Variety?

Hi Gregory, forgot to ask did you ever go skating at Grover Cleveland Park? My father use to take me and my girlfriends there. They had a big fire going in the litle club house. Still remember the smell!
Nancy Adams JCHS'70

The Grand Variety was one of the best stores that CAldwell ever had. Only wish we could have another one.
The club house at the skating pond has all been redone. They still do have a fireplace in it now just more updated and not walking on straw. It looks very nice. I was just in it a week ago looking at it. I miss the old Caldwell.

Keep the great recollections coming! Thought you would like to know that the Caldwell Library just posted a new blog on the Park Theatre. Read it here: http://patch.com/B-dnnp

CJ, I forgot all about the straw on the floor at the club house, I can picture it now!!
Thanks. Last summer I took my Grandaughter (she lives in Montclair) to Caldwell.
We walked up and down the avenue. I went inside the foyer of the apartment I grew up in on Bloomfield ave. Hasn't changed. It was very bittersweet, brought tears to my eyes. Great memories.
Nancy Adams

Yes Nancy,I did ice skate at Grover Cleveland Park Pond as well as Walker's Pond in No. Caldwell on Mountain Ave.In fact "Woody" Walker just passed away this past week.Now I also remember "Herb" who owned the "5 & 10"-Grand Variety.Oh how I hated to see him retire.Herb was always so pleasant and helpful.If you needed a button a watch battery or most anything else Herb would go down the isles and come back with what you needed.It truly was Caldwell's "General Store"..Respectfully,Gregory L.Mitchell,West Caldwell

There was a hardware store on bloomfield ave. Shawzes? You coukd get anything there! Don't know if I spelled it right.
Nancy Adams

Yes Apu,you've got it right.Now the young lady that worked there is now working at SEAR'S Hardware in W.C.She is an expert when it comes to sizes of nuts and bolts etc.If you need some of these,she is the one to go to.Now what most people won't know is originally that large store was the "ACME" supermarket complete with sawdust on the floor.The "ACME" later moved to West Caldwell on the NE corner of Blmfld & Passaic Aves.The A.& P.was first located on South side of Blmfld Ave.where Kalter's Cleaners is today.Across from the Central Ave.light.(It too had sawdust on the floor)The A.& P.later moved to West Caldwell where the CVS now stands.Not to forget about the "SHOP-RITE",where it first started as Sunrise Mkts.was across from the flag pole on the Caldwell Green.They then moved into the Acme building(which was the location,I forgot to mention,before going down to W.C.) This is where Shop-Rite then moved to before building their present market today.This today is known as "Shop-Rite Liquors".Konner's Chevrolet was directly across the avenue on the corner of Espy Rd.& Blmfld Ave. As Matthew Broderick said in,"FERRIS BUEHLER'S DAY OFF"---"Life goes by pretty fast,you have to look around now and then or you could miss some of it!!" Lol.Respectfuly,Gregory L.Mitchell,West Caldwell

That would be Karen that worked at Shanzts Hardware and now works at Sears and you are right Greg. She knows everything. She would be an asset to any hardware store.

Hy'a Cj:That's correct,"Karen"as soon as a read it I remembered her name.Sear's is very fortunate to have her in their employ...Greg Mitchell,W.C.

I remember that A&P where CVS is now!!!!! Wow, so long ago.
Remember Hy's foodtown? He kept remodeling it, but never got it quite right!