The round doughy wheel, also known as the bagel, keeps on rolling down memory lane:
Dennis Estis (65)
Over the course of several newsletters there has been a great discussion of Watson Bagels on or near Clinton Place and Renner Avenue, as well as on Chancellor Avenue just below the Chancellor Theater in Irvington. The Watson Bagels that I remember best is the one on Elmora Avenue in Elizabeth. It was a very small shop and was located just across the street from Goodman’s Deli, which was there forever, at least since 1943. As an aside, Goodman’s is now located in Berkeley Heights and hasn’t been owned by the original family since 1984. But I digress. On Saturday night, one could drive down Westfield Avenue in Roselle Park, turn onto Elmora Avenue and pick up the Sunday papers from the paper boy who sold the Ledger, the Times, the Daily News and the Post up until 1 A.M. in the morning. Then you could park your car only a half block further down and buy hot bagels from Watson’s. Of course, there was only plain and salt; no specialty bagels. Maybe that was a good thing? Dennis
Neil Rothstein (6/59)
To Linda Hilf Cohen (6/61), I think Watson Bagel was on Renner Avenue, 1 building below Clinton Place. I lived on Irving Avenue. There was a butcher store and an IGA grocery store on the corner. Mr. Kalfus owned the grocery store. One of his sons, and his wife, brought up their children on the Heritage side of Livingston in the 70s. Neil
Kenneth Stock (6/45)
My compliments to “Anonymous.” Judging from the extensive comments he or she must have worked at Watson Bagels or known someone who did. Watson Bagels holds dear memories for me. During my dating days, it was a ritual on the way home to pick up a dozen bagels and the Sunday Time. I was a necessity of life.
Our dear alumni have placed Watson all over the map. At my time it was located on Clinton Place and later it moved to Chancellor Avenue near Irvington. I must admit that although my memory works almost perfectly, I just can’t remember whether I bought salt or plain bagels. Kenneth
Judy Epstein Rothbard (6/58)
Anonymous must have been a bagel baker or owned a bagel bakery. No one knows that much about the workings of any industry unless they’re personally involved. Judy
Steve Radin (53)
Kudos to Anonymous for the almost Rothian detail on bagel baking. I witnessed this procedure many times at Belmont Bakery and at times, to Sonny Amster’s chagrin, stirred the kettle. The bagel bakers were perfectionists on baking hand-rolled bagels. Steve
Bob Smorodin (6/59)
I moved to Newark in 1953 and lived on Schuyler Avenue. I quickly fell in love with Watson Bagel, which was two blocks away on Clinton Place. They were 4 cents apiece. They gave you a baker's dozen (13 bagels) when you purchased a dozen. That 13th bagel never made it home! Bob
Meandering back:
Mel Rubin (56)
To David Cohen (56), I don’t remember a Howard Johnsons there. Wasn’t the corner of Clinton Place and Chancellor Avenue where the Dairy Queen was located and where we all hung out? I don’t remember two ice cream stores so close together, and I REALLY liked ice cream. Mel
Jerry Wichinsky (Arts 64)
To Dennis Estis (65), we lived right across the street from you at 323 Renner Avenue and I remember those two stores very well. Red’s Candy Store, named for “Red” Lipsher (née Lipshitz) was actually owned by his son Alan Lipsher. Alan was seriously wounded during the Korean War and was paralyzed on his right side. The actual name of the candy store changed. It was originally called Ann’s for Red’s wife. When they switched ice cream products from Costa to Sealtest, they changed the name to “Red Lippy’s Sealtest.”
Being a real wiseass as a kid, I spent most of the time getting thrown out of Red’s by Red himself (he actually lived next door to us at 325 Renner). He loved to call me and my friends “little mahmzars (small bastards)!” A little aside; Red’s was the neighborhood bookie joint and Red was a notorious bookie!
I loved Meyer Kravitz, and actually worked at Kravitz for a while in HS. He was a dear man who died young from a heart attack. Artie’s last name was Small. Jerry
Philip Lustig (46)
I love to see these entries that jar my memory. The Roosevelt Theater matinee was what we lived for; A major feature, a B movie, six shorts, cowboy series, Pathe news, several cartoons. It was a place for parents to dump their kids for four hours. I was also an usher and wore a spiffy military type uniform.
Loved “Our Gang” comedy series. Several years ago, Eugene “Porky” Lee was doing a promo for the Pork Industry (of course) at a hotel where my wife worked. She invited him for dinner. What an absolute thrill that was. Philip
Barry Gold (1/58)
When I was about 12 years old, my father and uncle partnered and opened an Army-Navy store on Prince Street near Morton. It was called “The Mighty Mites.” They already had another store on Springfield Avenue several doors down from Laurel Gardens, the boxing arena). But to get back to Prince Street, I remember going there with my dad on Saturdays and wander up and down the street checking out all the stores. I recall looking in the window of Eiser’s Western Wear and drooling over the beautiful western clothes and great cowboy boots. Stopping at Lehrhoff’s Bakery for a roll and butter was a treat. Wonderful Memories that cannot ever be repeated. Barry
Iris Lauer Talesnick (6/53)
To Joel Braverman (6/58), thanks for responding to my text about Jane Logan, the Ice cream parlor in Bradley Beach on Main Street. I guess you must be correct. I never knew I t was called “Sally’s.” I wonder, is still there? Iris
Bob Dubman (6/52)
Response to Steven Feldman (Columbia 68); while serving in the USAF, I developed an itch in my eyes. No Air Force physician was able to diagnose my condition. That included an examination at Letterman Army Hospital in San Francisco (the west coast equivalent of Walter Reed Hospital in Washington) and later, while a 4th year dental student, a failure to diagnosis at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. In desperation, I discovered Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia where, after several years of failure to diagnose, it was determined that had an eye allergy.
I did not seek treatment for my allergy until one year later, in 1964, when I was practicing dentistry at 19 Lyons Avenue (one short block above Weequahic Park). Then, fortunately, I found your dad, Dr. Frank Feldman, who had his office a short distance from mine on Lyons Avenue. In short order, Dr. Feldman had me inoculated and my symptoms disappeared. Wow, after several years of suffering, I found relief with Dr. Feldman. Thank you, Dr. Feldman. Bob
