Olivia Fisher 
There is nothing more local for The Local Girl to share than a guide to the oldest surviving businesses in Montclair. Montclair has seen industries come and go, recently saying goodbye to long-standing businesses like DeCamp Buses and Saunders Hardware that had been around for over 130 years. Here at MG, we did the work of scouring newspapers and deep diving through the internet to uncover as many businesses as we could that have been serving Montclair for over 40 years. Read on for a guide to the 24 of the oldest businesses in Montclair.
All Pro Cleaners | 121 Grove Street
All Pro Cleaners opened on May 24, 1984. It previously went by the name J&E Economy Cleaners, which operated out of 127 Grove Street as early as 1974.
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Applegate Farms | 616 Grove Street
Applegate Farm opened in 1848 when dairy farms were scattered across Essex County, something unheard of today. Before Applegate came to be, the farm was owned and operated by the Sigler family. Its modern story of ice cream and summer treats began in 1980 when Betty Vhay became the owner. Her nephew Jason Street, who was studying business in college, was drawn to his aunt’s farm. In time, he took over the property and turned it into the ice cream spot many know today.
Cameron Animal Hospital | 417 Bloomfield Avenue
Cameron Animal Hospital opened in 1937 by Dr. George L. Cameron Sr. The building was designed by Arthur Ramhurst of Montclair. George Sr. passed away in 1970, and his son George Jr. took over, retiring in 2019. George Jr. founded Montclair’s PAWS animal rescue group and worked pro bono for the Montclair Animal Shelter and the Bloomfield Animal Shelter.
Caggiano Liquors | 65 Glenridge Avenue
In 1903, the Caggiano brothers left Italy and arrived in the United States. They made their way to Montclair, where he opened a butcher shop. After prohibition, they opened Caggiano’s Liquor Store in 1939. The family sold it in 2009.
Caggiano Memorial-Home | 62 Grove Street
Caggiano Memorial-Home and Caggiano Liquors are both connected to the same family and have served Montclair for over 75 years. The Caggiano Memorial-Home opened in at least 1946. Before the funeral home took over the space, a nursery school operated out of it, dating back to 1910.
Churchill Rugs & Carpets | 127 Grove Street
Churchill Rugs & Carpets was opened in 1928 by the Churchill family. It reached Montclair in 1948, operating on Orange Road. In 1964, the operation relocated to its current location on Grove Street under Herbert W. Churchill Sr. and Charles Churchill. In 1979, the business had other locations in Ramsey and Lyndhurst. Eventually, the operation was taken over by Charles H. Churchill. He had graduated from Verona High School, the University of Vermont, and served in the U.S. Navy. He was in charge till at least 1980. Today, Maria Garcia runs Churchill Rugs & Carpets.
Clairmont Auto Body | 2 Bloomfield Avenue
Clairmont Auto Body started in 1979, by Michael Minniti, who is still the current owner. The spot provides auto body work, repairs, and a variety of other car services.
Grove Deli | 121 Grove Street
Grove Deli dates back to 1974 and was owned by Maria and Michael Zbikowski. Today, it is owned by Maria Zbikowski and her son-in-law, Ken Atkas.
Grove Liquor Shop | 131 Grove Street
Grove Liquor Shop first operated out of 133 Grove Street in a space previously used by an Oxford Shoppe, Morris Delicatessen, and later Grove Food Shop, which opened its liquor department in 1939. By 1940, the space was referred to as Grove Liquors. In 1941, the business moved its storefront next door and still retained its 133 address. Eventually, the space moved to 131 Grove Street, or, depending on who you ask, the storefronts were simply renumbered. Ownership has passed through many hands, including John and Grace Bianchi, Michael C. Fusco, Edward Smith, and Paul Galasso.
Grove Pharmacy | 123 Grove Street
Grove Pharmacy opened on November 20, 1926, and is still serving Montclair 98 years later. N. Gassenberg, a pharmacist, opened the store at 115 Grove Street. By 1959, the shop operated out of its current location at 123 Grove Street. By 1961, Larry Hollander, a graduate of Montclair High School and Rutgers University, operated Grove Pharmacy. Larry owned the space until at least 2013. Today, the pharmacy operates under Better Life Pharmacy, owned by Wael Isaac, retaining its almost century-old name.
Kings Super Market | 650 Valley Road
Kings Super Market opened in Montclair as early as 1946, operating out of 611 Valley Road. The 611 Valley Road address had been a grocery store for some time before that: before Kings used the space, Acme Markets did, and before that, E.J. Dimmick + Bros used it as early as 1903. In 1950, Kings moved to its current location at 650 Valley Road.
Merit Wine and Liquor | 571 Bloomfield Avenue
As early as 1934, Leon Franzblau operated Leon Franzblau Delicatessen out of this space. In 1944, he sold the business to Samuel Blum, who changed the name to Merit Wine and Liquor. Samuel was born in Austria and lived with his wife, Jennie and children on Seymour Street. Within a few years, Samuel’s son-in-law, Edgar Schlossberg, joined him in operating the space. The business has passed through numerous hands since the 1960s, but has survived the test of time.
Montclair Book Center | 221 Glenridge Avenue
Montclair Book Center is the town’s largest independent bookseller and one of the largest in the Tri-State area. Opened by Peter Ryby, Montclair Book Center has been in operation since 1984. It was initially opened as a branch of the Passaic Book Center, which no longer exists. The spot features three stories and over 10,000 square feet full of books, CDs, records, and more.
Montclair Diner | 613 Valley Road
The Montclair Diner is over 100 years old and dates to 1923. Today, it is owned by Eliot R Mosby, a native of Chicago. At some point before Eliot took over the business, it was called Louvis, a Greek and American restaurant owned by Steve Louvis and Mary Theodos that had been in their family since 1923. Louvis originally started out as a candy and ice cream store a few doors down at 618 Valley Road in 1923. George Louvis, the first owner, was born in Sparta, Greece. He arrived in the US in 1909 and in Montclair in 1923. By at least 1952, it had moved to its current location and eventually became Louvis Luncheonette and Louvis Cha-Broil.
Mr. Dino’s | 119 Watchung Avenue
In 1981, brothers Pasquale and Angelo Loconsole found Montclair on a whim and opened a pizzeria. Together with their father, Nicola, Pasquale, and Angelo commuted from their home in Brooklyn for about 15 years. Mr. Dino’s is still in the family today and is the oldest pizzeria in Montclair.
National Cleaners and Tailors | 133 Grove Street
The buildings on Grove Street between Oxford Street and Walnut Street hold the largest cluster of the oldest businesses in town. National Cleaners and Tailors first began operation in 1934. Owners have included Joseph Jesraly and Benjamin Lee. Joseph Jesraly was president of Grove Holding Company, which included 131 and 133 Grove Street.
Nicolo’s Italian Bakery + Deli | 6 Baldwin Street
Nicolo’s Italian Bakery and Deli was established by its namesake, Nicolo Zecchino, in 1967 and is still family-owned and operated to this day. The spot sells its baked goods to various businesses in Montclair, including some of the town’s oldest businesses like Mr Dino’s, Grove Deli, and Ray’s Luncheonette.
Ray’s Luncheonette | 99 Walnut Street
Angelica Flores, the current owner of Ray’s Luncheonette, first joined the restaurant as a waiter, eventually taking over this decades-old restaurant. In 2021, she and Ray’s were one of 25 businesses across the country to receive a grant from the “Backing Historic Small Restaurants” grant, a Washington, D.C.-based initiative by American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The story behind this spot starts in 1964 when Ray and Linda Festa took over ownership. While this became their shop with a name change, Linda’s mother owned and operated Betty’s Kitchen at this site before she passed the baton off to the next generation. Linda’s family owned other spots in town, like the Marlboro Inn, and outside Montclair, like the Clairmont Diner in Verona. The origin story does not end here. Before Ray and Betty’s, there was Walnut Lunchonette. For six years, John Diotes, a World War I veteran from Greece, owned and operated the spot.
Reliable Cleaners | 123 Watchung Avenue
Reliable Cleaners, currently located at 123 Watchung Plaza, was established in 1928. The business has operated out of its current location since at least 1928 and formerly had a secondary location at 18 South Fullerton Avenue. It was known as Reliable Tailors and as Reliable Tailors and Cleaners.
Romany Liquor Shop | 227 Glenridge Avenue
Romany Liquor Shop began operation in Montclair as early as 1933. Originally known as Little Romany Shop and later just Romany Shop, it first operated out of 428 Bloomfield Avenue. Eventually, it became Romany Liquor Shop. The first owner, Benjamin Lentz, was born in Austria-Hungary and lived in Montclair with his wife, Ada, on Forest Avenue. In 1944, Benjamin transferred the business to Harry A. Harrison and Albert Krupnick, but later he repurchased it in 1945. Benjamin finally sold the business off at some point after 1950, and it has passed through various owners since. Between 1964 and 1966, the business moved to its current location.
South End Liquors | 310 Orange Road
The story of South End Liquors likely began around 1926 at 311 Orange Road, across the street from its current location. Morris Kantor, the shop’s original owner, was born in Russia. Before Morris opened his shop, an Atlantic and Pacific Store (aka A&P) operated out of it. Morris operated the space as South End Delicatessen until he sold the business in 1945 to Herman Rosner and Eddie Greenwald as South End Liquors and Delicatessen. Herman and Eddie operated out of 310 Orange Road. After Herman left, Leo Bromley stepped in and became a co-owner alongside Eddie. Leo was previously the president and executive director of the New Jersey Liquors Association. After Eddie retired, Leo was the sole president of the store until he passed away in 2001. By 2013, the business was owned by Jitendra Shah, and by 2017, it was Viral Patel. In 2020, South End Liquors sold a lucky customer a locker ticket worth $140,000.
The Claridge | 486 Bloomfield Avenue
The Claridge opened in 1922 and is the only remaining movie theater in town. In 2020 the theater shut down. In June of 2021, after over a year of being closed, Montclair Film signed an agreement to take over the operation of The Claridge and began remodeling it. The space reopened October 22, 2021 for the 10th annual Montclair Film Festival. Today, movie goers can regularly see films.
Tierney’s Tavern | 136-138 Valley Road
Tierney’s Tavern began operation in 1934 and after more than 90 years later still operates out of the same venue. Original owner, Edward Tierney was a native of Montclair, living at 134 Valley Road next to his shop. He eventually moved to Rydal Place. When Edward passed in 1946, Tierney’s Tavern was fully taken over by William Tierney, James Tierney, Mildred Tierney, Nora Conley and over time, other family members. Today, it is still operated by the Tierney family. In 2024, Tierney’s Tavern was nominated as one of USA Today ‘Bars of the Year’.
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Town Auto Body | 107 Grove Street
Town Auto Body has been family owned and operated for over 60 years with three generations of the Pastore family taking pride in their small business and in the Montclair community they serve. The business began around 1962 and was originally located at 111 Walnut Street.
