I remembered the days when people worked there and would cross the street to have lunch at the Pickwick Deli. A mother and daughter ran the deli when I first encountered it. Later Lamar Mackson Sr. owned it. I don't have the timeline straight, but the bustle at Park & Seventh then is wrapped up in my mind with the days when Macy's was still open downtown and the Plainfield Public Library was open on Sundays. A person could go to church, do a bit of shopping downtown and still have time to browse for books at the library.
There were art galleries downtown, along with hat shop windows full of millinery marvels. The radio station WERA was in the Atlas Building at 120 West Seventh Street and so was the "little bank," a branch of United Trust on Arlington Avenue.
Those days are gone, but the acquisition of the office building by the ambitious Mr. Camino brings hope of some kind of new life for Park & Seventh. The building has been vacant for at least 10 years, except for squatters and scavengers who stripped out all the metal, as one can see by peering into the ground floor windows. It will take a mighty effort to restore the building to usefulness, but the current tide of developer interest in Plainfield may lift all boats, as the saying goes.
--Bernice
I live down the block and am glad to hear that that building is sold. It is a blight on this area. I hope they tear it down as it's a cheap and ugly building. I was hoping the city would buy it, fix it up for another annex building, but anything to fix that corner welcomed. Finally, this ugly building will be gone, the homeless and drug dealers who hang inside will also be gone, I hope.
ReplyDeleteDevelopment is welcome and if it ties in with a vision it is great.
ReplyDeleteI have not seen any coverage of South Avenue near the Netherwood train station. A new apartment complex has been built and the building across from the station is slowly being deconstructed. What is going on?
The A&P was across the street. The orginal A&P was on West Front Street across from the Drake House. Hope all this "development talk" is benefical to Plainfield as a whole.
ReplyDeleteWe loved going to the Pickwick Deli when we first moved to Plainfield. Also frequented Pickwick (?) Liquors next door where I bought cigarettes and occasional beer and wine. But the deli changed hands soon we got here after and didn't seem the same and then it morphed into a day laborer shape-up storefront. Story of this town in a nutshell.
ReplyDeleteI hope Mario Camino and his buddies know what they're doing.
Welcome Mario - We look forward to having a vital 7th Ave.
ReplyDeleteThis is what Plainfield should be and more!
We are moving on up!
Its about time since the City has allowed this building to sit fallow for all these years. Lets hope we can get some new shops and offices out of it.
ReplyDeleteRon, there is more information about the apartments on South Avenue at NetherwoodPointe.com
ReplyDelete