Some days, you’re just feeling a little nostalgic. New Jersey is a wonderful place with lots of history and local pride, and today we’re taking a little trip down memory lane. The Garden State is full of splendid small towns and places, and over the years, some of the most family-run businesses have closed their doors. This post honors those New Jersey gems. These retro places in New Jersey are some many of you may recognize. Let’s get a little nostalgic in New Jersey today!

The iconic New Jersey department store, Two Guys was a discount store chain founded in Harrison, New Jersey in 1946.
YouTube/Paul Czekaj
They got their start selling appliances but grew to include hardware, automotive and grocery departments. The store in East Hanover even had an attached liquor store with a bar. The chain expanded to over 100 locations across the U.S. (including Neptune City, Vineland, Union, Hackensack and North Bergen) but experienced declining sales in the 1970s; Two Guys was defunct by 1982.
Another New Jersey original, W.T. Grant was founded in 1906.
YouTube/Paul Czekaj
Sadly, this company went bankrupt seventy years later, due largely to competition from big chain stores like Kmart.
A Garden State gem, the first Woolworth's store was opened in Utica, New York back in 1878.
YouTube/Paul Czekaj
A five and dime store, the chain soon grew to include locations in New Jersey. A pioneer in the discount department store industry, Woolworth's was the largest department store chain in the world by 1979. New Jersey locations included Point Pleasant Beach, Morristown and Red Bank. While most Woolworth's store were closed by the 1990s, the chain still lives on today, most known with the popular Foot Locker chain.
Nobody beats The Wiz!
YouTube/Paul Czekaj
The chain was founded in 1977 and included locations in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Canada. The company was a major sponsor of sports teams including the Yankees, Knicks, Mets, New Jersey Nets, Rangers, New Jersey Devils and Islanders. (This retail chain went out of business in 2003.)

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Drive-in theaters have always been big in The Garden State, offering New Jersey folks wonderful views with their flick.
Delsea Drive-In/Facebook
At one point, there were over 40 in the Garden State including the Newark Drive-In Theater, Union Drive-In, Woodbridge Drive-In, Amboys Drive-in Theatre, Motor-Vue Drive-in Theatre, Brunswick Route 1 Drive-In Theater, Morris Plains Drive-In, Dover Drive-In, Absecon Drive-In, and Route 46 Drive-In in Lodi. Recently, more of these charming places have been popping back up, and we're here for it.
Roller rinks used to be all the rage in New Jersey, but some still remain.
Frenchtown Roller Rink/Flickr
Frenchtown Roller Rink is still open, and remains a full retro place in New Jersey to skate the day away.
For an old-fashioned candy shop experience, Black River Candy Shoppe sits just off Main Street in Chester, and is absolutely delightful.
Black River Candy Shoppe/Facebook
A visit to this charming candy shop is like stepping back in time -- to a very sweet time, indeed. Black River Candy Shoppe sells over 1000 varieties of candy in total!
And does it get any more nostalgic than a diner? We don't think so.
Ted Van Pelt/Flickr
The Summit Built Diner was in 1929, and is believed to be the oldest diner in New Jersey still in operation. It's known for its epic sliders.

If you’re a long-time resident, you may enjoy seeing the spots in the following video, created by YouTube user Paul Czekaj, which highlights some of the great places that have closed their doors over the years:

Do you remember any of these places? Which do you miss most? Are there any other businesses that you wish were still open? Share your stories in the comments below!

And for more retro places in New Jersey, here are 10 stores that anyone from the Garden State will undoubtedly remember.

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Retro Places in New Jersey

Sarah | March 17, 2021

Does New Jersey have many diners?

New Jersey is known for its epic diner game; there are over 500 diners in the state, and we are often called the Diner Capital of the World! Everyone has their favorite, and choosing the best diners in New Jersey would be nearly impossible. But we'll try. Top's Diner in East Newark tops the list, as this popular spot gets more mentions on social media than any other diner in the state. Doo Wop Diner in Wildwood is a total nostalgic throwback, complete with a juke box and massive milkshake menu. Americana Diner is another must-visit restaurant in the state; it was Inside Jersey's choice for best diner in New Jersey, and it is a longstanding local favorite.

What are some nostalgic attractions in New Jersey?

New Jersey offers countless opportunities to step back in time, from our dozens of diners to vintage arcades. There are so many nostalgic attractions in New Jersey; some of our favorites include Yestercades, a retro arcade that features favorite games such as Pac-Man and pinball. Over in Wildwood, StarLux Hotel is a retro-themed boutique hotel that offers a variety of charming little rooms along with Airstream Trailers! If you love classic Americana, take a trip down to Wildwood -- the city is overflowing with it!

What's a charming city to visit in New Jersey?

Hoboken is a place full of that's rich with New Jersey memories; there's simply so much history here. This mile-square city has a fascinating history: the world's first commercial steam ferry began operating here in 1811, transporting travelers to and from Manhattan. A hub of industry, major companies like Maxwell House, Lipton Tea, and Hostess all have roots here. The first officially recorded game of baseball took place in Hoboken in 1846 and the nation's first mechanical engineering college (Steven's Institute of Technology) was founded in the city in 1870. 

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