The 10 Monmouth County businesses we’ll always miss

Of course, things change. Life moves on. Things go in and out of style. We accept that. That doesn't mean we can't miss the way things used to be.

If you’ve lived in Monmouth County for as long as I have, you’ve seen businesses come and go and some aren't even a blip on the radar. Others leave an impact. They remind you of a great time or place in your life. When things were simpler, perhaps, or at least they seemed to be.

If I could bring back ten businesses that I really miss, that seem to exemplify life in New Jersey (at least this part of Jersey.)

10. American Cafe, Monmouth Mall, Eatontown

Besides having really good food (even for a Mall Joint) and a fun atmosphere, there was something for everyone there. They’d go out of their way to be really welcoming to kids, offering them crayons and coloring books and not freaking out when the kids got a little loud. They served star shaped fried mozzarella, which was awesome. Unlike a lot of Chains, there was a personal feeling there. They’d do special orders and remember your name when you walked in. Some corporate numbnuts made them change to an Italian theme and it was all downhill from there.

9. Two Guys, Various Locations (Mine was Neptune)

I can't really say anything that hasn’t already been written about Two Guys except to say that it was the Granddaddy of all department stores. Like the best part of a Kmart or a Walmart without any of the riff raff, a visit to Two Guys was like an adventure. They had everything. And they were the first store to have EVERYTHING. Supermarket, Hardware, even an in-store dining room in some locations. Two Guys started it all.

8. West End Video, Long Branch

Like a lot of mom and pop video stores back then, West End Video had to do what they had to do to be competitive. So they had all the extras, like popcorn and theatre style candy. Add that to the fact that the whole video rental thing was such a cool activity that walking around choosing the video became an integral part of the whole at home movie experience. Going to get the video store made it seem like you had much more invested in the movie. You’d almost never quit watching a rented video, even if the movie was bad! After all, it took a lot of effort to get that baby home! Never mind the discipline it took to get it REWOUND and back on time! (We never did)

7. Deal Variety, Deal

This is an oldie, but had to be included because of the fact that these stores do not exist anymore. Period. This was no dollar-store schlock. Deal Variety had important stuff and unimportant stuff, side by side. Most of it quality, and usually well priced. You could buy a Hamilton Beach Blender, a rubber ball, or a pack of baseball cards and everything in between. And the price was right, because there was no Walmart or Amazon so the guy who owned it could actually be competitive. Oh and it was at the corner. So you could bike there.

6. Borders, Various Locations (Mine was Eatontown)

Barnes & Noble kind of does this now, but Borders did it better. It was less a store, more a reading center. They encouraged to you hang out and read, with absolutely no pressure at all to buy. They had comfy couches and chairs all over, with an integrated cafe (they were the first to do this) so you’d stay a while. Sometimes you’d just go there to hang out and drink coffee and not even look at the books. And the children’s section was amazing, also cozy and welcoming. We’d take the kids there every Saturday night and everyone got to come home with something. While B&N is definitely a STORE, and I like it (because who doesn't love a bookstore?) Borders was more like a cool library where you could eat and drink and no one ever shushed you.

5. Down to Earth, Red Bank

The best Vegan Restaurant ever. Why? Even non-vegans (of which I am one) loved it. It didn’t try to be all frou frou and crunchy and eco-friendly. The food was real food. “Meatloaf” “Fried Chicken” “Pizza”. Yes, they had the standard vegan fare, too. The stuff that looks healthy for you. But here, your husband could slam a vegan “cheesesteak” and not know the difference, while you had a vegan-y raw or healthy thing without trying to get him to taste it. Similar things are being done, by the way, at the outstanding Good Karma Cafe down the block and Kaya’s Kitchen in Belmar. To me Down to Earth was the best.

4. Funk & Standard, Red Bank

What’s not to love? An emporium of all things weird, cooky, and wonderful in a huge bright space on the best block in Red Bank. It was clothing and kitsch and you could spend hours wandering around in there. Imagine a place where you could buy a gorgeous chunky sweater, retro vinyl boots, or rubber dog poo. It had a thrift shop feel, without the mildew. Like Urban Outfitters with a much cooler vibe, Funk & Standard perfectly exuded Red Banks unique charm. It will be missed and there’s nothing else that comes close anywhere in Monmouth County.

3. Don’s Subs, Allenhurst

Before you ever even heard of a sub or a hoagie, Don’s was grinding 'em out. They were the first in Monmouth County to create Subs designed by the customer. Of course they had all the standards, but if you asked for tuna and turkey, peppers and prosciutto, salami and slaw, they’d do it, and deliver. Even to school (I gained 10 pounds that way in 8th grade). It was said people traveled for miles to get there and I believe it. Before Subway, Quiznos, or any of ‘em, there was Don’s.

2. Eatontown Roller Rink, Eatontown

I was there twice. They were two of the most magical nights ever. I was 14. I had heard after that that it became known for bad crowds and troublemakers but when I was in 9th grade, it was just skating and great music. I skated (four wheels, kids. Ask your parents) to “Don’t go breaking my heart” by Elton John and KiKi Dee. We asked them to play it like 6 times that night, ad they did. A roller rink back then was just a place you could hang out in the winter and hope you’d maybe get to talk to a cute boy. And after you didn’t, your parents would pick you up knowing that it was good clean fun. I get why this doesnt happen anymore, but if you never got to hang out there in the good times, you don’t know what you missed.

1. Turntable Records, Long Branch

You know there had to be a record store on this list. There still are fine record stores (Jack’s Music in Red Bank is the standout today), but it ain't the same.

First off, Brighton Avenue, where it was located, was the downtown in Long Branch that other downtowns are trying to recreate today. So it was authentic. When an artist was in town, he’d do a record signing at the Turntable. When WNEW-FM announced a Springsteen show, we’d line up to get tickets. And it wasn’t 2000 of us, it was more like 200.

99% of my record collection (much of which I still own) was purchased at Turntable. We looked up to the people who worked there. They were probably only 2 or 3 years older than we were, but we thought they were the coolest. And they obviously knew everything there was to know about music.

Turntable had a ticketron outlet too. So of course you’d go there and plunk down your $11 of hard earned money (or your parents’) for a ticket to see whoever was appearing around town or around Jersey. You cant compare this to any store that sells vinyl records today.

Because when buying the actual record from the actual record store was the ONLY way to bring music into your home, it had a whole different feeling. There was a sanctity to it.

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