NY Shipbuilding ID PinA Place Called YORKSHIP - Doing Business in the Village


Last Update: Thursday, November 08, 2018


The Square is inescapably part of the memories of anyone who grew up in Fairview Village. For me, those memories include candy, baseball cards, and fountain Cokes from Dave & Dot's, thin-sliced American cheese and lebanon bologna from the deli in the Village Market, the wizardly clutter of Fennell's Television Repair and Post Office Substation, the mysterious maze of boxes and drawers in the hardware store, crumb coffee cake from the bakery, Lou's five-and-dime under the library, the smell of Sam Lawyer's shoe store, the sound of the brass clanging on the pavement when the Memorial Day honor guard fired its salute at the monument, carrying an armful of summer reading books down the stairs from the library, squirming in the chair at the barber's, and hurrying through the alley to get to school on time.

(Single dates in Roman type, such as 1982, indicate that the business appears at that address in the Camden Yellow Pages for that year. Dates in italic, such as 1951-1964, indicate years of operation, based on best information.)

Businesses in Yorkship Square

address unknown - Boston Shoe Repair 1933

address unknown - Well Baby Care 1970s

The south side - between Kearsarge Road and Alabama Road

3002 Kearsarge Road, Mayer's Sweet Shop

1184 Yorkship Square, Michael H. Devlin, Attorney (856) 757-9561

1186 Yorkship Square, Bumble Bee Florist, (609) 541-5224 1982
1186 Yorkship Square, Yorkship Laundromat, (856) 225-9757 2012

1188 Yorkship Square, Harry's Barber Shop 1933
1188 Yorkship Square, Chas. H. Williams, Jeweler, EM 5-3227 1947-1955

1190 Yorkship Square, Lawyer's Shoe Repair - Samuel Lawyer passed away in March 1985
1190 Yorkship Square, Triquest, Inc, (856) 541-1155

1192 Yorkship Square, Village Market
1192 Yorkship Square, Fairview Pharmacy (856) 365-1210 1982 1987
1192 Yorkship Square, Home Health Care Center 365-1210
1192 Yorkship Square, Queen's Beauty Hair Salon, (856) 916-1390

1194 Yorkship Square, Fairview Drug Store, EM 5-2952
1194 Yorkship Square, Fairfield Cut Glass (609) 365-0657 1982
1194 Yorkship Square, Jonathon Ross, M.D. (856) 964-1194
1194 Yorkship Square, BLV Day Care Center
1194 Yorkship Square, Nimu Um & Chheng Kaing
1194 Yorkship Square, Star Donut

1196 Yorkship Square, Fairdale Food Market
1196 Yorkship Square, Miss-Chris Deli, (609) 966-2142 1982
1196 Yorkship Square, Southside Bistro, (609) 757-7979 1998
1196 Yorkship Square, Marcello's Pizza & Italian, (856) 757-7979
1196 Yorkship Square, Square Mini Market, (856) 757-9566 2012
1196 Yorkship Square, Azcona Mini Market (856) 757-9566

1198 Yorkship Sqaure, Thomas Katz, tailor,
1198 Yorkship Square, Fairview Laundromat
1198 Yorkship Square, Fairview Youth Center, Inc. (609) 966-6848 1982
1198 Yorkship Square, 3-D Video, (609) 338-0227
1198 Yorkship Square, The Hair D'Tailers (856) 338-1880
1198 Yorkship Square, TNS Unisex salon-Barber Shop (856) 203-3407 2011-?

[alley to South Octagon and Yorkship School]

1200 Yorkship Square, Chestnut's Pharmacy, EM5-13?? 1924-1955
1200 Yorkship Square, Fairview True Value Hardware, 964-4550 closed Sep 1980
1200 Yorkship Square, Pete Dickenson Photography, (609) 964-9221
1200 Yorkship Square, Fairview BLV Day Care, (856) 963-4496

1202 Yorkship Square, Leitch's Hardware, EM 5-1415 1937-1969
1202 Yorkship Square, McGuire's Delicatessen, (856) 365-7319 1982 1987
1202 Yorkship Square, Temple of Christ Christian Church, Inc.& Community School of Adult Careers School of Theology

1204 Yorkship Square, Fairview Fruit Market (William Milask, prop.) 1933
1204 Yorkship Square, J & D Ceramics, (609) 365-1285
1204 Yorkship Square, Barbers Ink, (856) 379-6014
1204 Yorkship Square - 2nd floor 2BR apartment, newly renovated, rents for $975/mo in 2018

1206 Yorkship Square, Fennell Radio Sales & Service, (609) 964-2610 1982 1987 - Fennell's also contained the Post Office Substation for Fairview, with a counter in the middle of the store tended by Velma
1206 Yorkship Square, Child Health Clinic (609) 966-2570
1206 Yorkship Square, Rutgers Fairview Neighborhood Project (856) 225-1400

1208 Yorkship Square, Fred Reinhardt 1933
1208 Yorkship Square, Michael Mayer Bakery 1947-1970s
1208 Yorkship Square, Fu Lai Chinese Restaurant, (856) 963-0161

1210 Yorkship Square, Anne Fusco Dry Goods
1210 Yorkship Square, Anne's Dress Shop [?]
1210 Yorkship Square, Barney's
1210 Yorkship Square, Fernandito Supermarket (856) 541-3590 - occupies 1210 and 1212 renovated as a single retail space

1212 Yorkship Square, Alex Gowitch (restaurant)
1212 Yorkship Square, Lane's/Dave & Dot's
1212 Yorkship Square, K C Printing, Inc., (856) 963-9323
1212 Yorkship Square, Just a Buck Plus, (856) 964-3535

Sources disagree whether 1214 is a retail space or an upstairs apartment. Contemporary photos show a bricked-up doorway
on the corner, a mirror to 1184 at the other end of the block. One source lists "Ann Sykes, grocery" at 1214 in 1947. Further research--
a photo, a city directory, a newspaper ad--may settle the question.

The east side - between Alabama Road and E. America Road

2950 Yorkship Square, Acme Market
2950 Yorkship Square, Village Market
2950 Yorkship Square, Bonanza Supermarket, (609) 338-1674 1982 1987
2950 Yorkship Square, Buy Rite Super Market, (856) 963-1200

The northeast corner - between E. America Road and Yorkship Road

2940 Yorkship Square, Edmund J. Lenny, realtor 1933
2940 Yorkship Square, Joe Bonanno, Barber
2940 Yorkship Square, Al Rose Apothecary, (856) 541-2990 1973-2016 - Al Rose sold the store and retired at age 73
2940 Yorkship Square, Hometown Pharmacy (Dave Patel, prop.) (856) 541-2990 2016

2936 Yorkship Square, Dr. Morris Wolbransky, Optometrist (609) 541-9444 1947-1976?

2934 Yorkship Square, Dr. Norman Ellis D.O. (609) 963-8998 1982

Note: Several 29xx addresses, including 2936 and 2934, disappeared when the Yorkship Square apartments were renovated.in 2005. The five entryways on the northeast corner are now numbered 1201A through 1201E. Now known as Fairview Village Apartments, the 22 units are owned by Fairview Village Urban Renewal Association (which purchased them for $1 in 2002).

The ground level of what is now 1201A, on the corner of Yorkship Square and Yorkship Road, has long been a retail space which has seen several tenants over the years. These include:

1201 Yorkship Square, Palumbo's Fairview Delicatessen 1947
1201 Yorkship Square, Cosy Corner Beauty Salon, 541-6570 1976
1201 Yorkship Square, Earl's Collectibles, (856) 541-7655
1201 Yorkship Square, 2nd District Mini-Station
1201 Yorkship Square, RPM Development (856) 541-6003

The northwest corner - between Yorkship Road and W. America Road

1185A through 1185D Yorkship Square, 18 apartments owned by Fairview Village Urban Renewal Association (purchased for $1 in 2004)

1203 Yorkship Square, Dr. Morris Kauffman, dentist 1947-1980 - Dr. Kauffman died 11 November 1993

Note: The 1203 address no longer exists, having been renumbered into the 1185 block during redevelopment.

2957 Yorkship Square, Kearsarge Savings & Loan Association 1947
2957 Yorkship Square, S. Raymond Dobbs, real estate 1947-1970 - S. Raymond Dobbs died November 1972
2957 Yorkship Square, S.B. Dobbs, Inc, (856) 963-4380 [residence] 1982

Note: The 2957 address no longer exists, having been renumbered into the 1185 block during redevelopment.

2961 Yorkship Square, Louie's 5 & 10 (Lou Yablonsky)
2961 Yorkship Square, Dr. Irvin S. Kaigh (609) 365-1217 1982
2961 Yorkship Square, Show & Tell, (609) 338-1122
2961 Yorkship Square, Dr. Jeffrey A. Kleeman DO (856) 288-1737
2961 Yorkship Square, Seacare Medical Services, Jeffrey A. Kleeman, D.O. (856) 541-5588
2961 Yorkship Square, Marykay Maley, CRNP, (856) 541-5588
2961 Yorkship Square, Steven Gitler, D.O. (856) 541-5588
2961 Yorkship Square, Fairview Village Family Practice, Steven Gitler

2961 Yorkship Square, 2nd Floor, Project SEED (856) 966-9669 Fax: (856) 966-9677
2961 Yorkship Square, 2nd Floor, Dare 2 Dance Studio, (609) 332-6585

The west side - between W. America Road and Kearsarge Road

2977 Yorkship Square, Yorkship Square Savings & Loan Association 1/5/1922-1982 - acquired by Fidelity Mutual Savings Associatio1947n
2977 Yorkship Square, Lenny Agency, REALTORS®, (609) 963-2526 1982 1987
Closed in June, 2003 after 74 years in business.

2979 Yorkship Square, Clover Federal Savings & Loan, (856) 964-3500 1982 1987
2979 Yorkship Square, Clover Bank, (856) 964-3500
2979 Yorkship Square, United Check Cashing Co. (856) 342-6666
2979 Yorkship Square, The Lock Box Unisex Hair Salon (856) 964-5625

2985 Yorkship Square, Morris Morgenstern, grocer 1933-1947
2985 Yorkship Square, Full Circle Marketing Ventures, Inc. (856) 365-8551
2985 Yorkship Square, Fairview Vision, Dr. Joseph Lebovic, D.O., (856) 964-2020

2987 Yorkship Square, Frank Virgilio, barber 1947

A few businesses have been located on the roads leading into The Square, particularly Alabama Road and Kearsarge Road.

2976 Alabama Road, Fred Palumbo, Barber

3008 Kearsarge Road, Capital Savings Corporation, (609) 338-8999


Elsewhere in the Village:

Collings Road

The other commercial area in Fairview was the strip on South Collings Road (a.k.a. Collings Avenue), west of Alabama Road. The only gas stations, the bowling alley, the skating rink, the only liquor store, and the "alternative" barber were located here. Another local landmark was Shorty's newstand and the attached restaurant (which never seemed to be open), which had somehow managed to secure a prize location on the Collings Road boulevard at Mt. Ephraim Avenue. Much of the strip opposite Yorkship School has been redeveloped under the Yorkship Village Development Plan announced in December 2001.

Addresses unknown

Aceto's Barber Shop
People's Florist
Lane's Provisions

1036 South Collings, Gizzie's Catering Service, (856) 858-1412
1036 South Collings, Gizzie's Deli, (856) 858-1035

Between Tennessee Road and New Jersey Road

1200 South Collings, Suburban Auto Supply and Service, (856) 962-7400 1955-1982
1200 South Collings, A & A Glass, (856) 962-6888

Between New Jersey Road and S. Chesapeake Road

In 2010, most of the front half of the block enclosed by Collings, New Jersey, S. Merrimac, and S. Chesapeake was redeveloped into a
3-story subsidized rent complex for low and medium income residents 55+, called Market Fair Senior Housing. The single structure
backs up to the row homes on South Merrimac Road, which were not affected, and has covered parking from the alley side. There
are eight retail spaces on the ground floor, the occupants of which have included:

1250 South Collings, RPM Development Group, (856) 246-1023
1250 South Collings #2, Liberty Tax Service, (856) 288-7596

Previously, this property was home to:

1250 South Collings, Independent Citizens Athletic Club, (856) 962-9834 1982 - the club relocated to Gloucester

1267 South Collings, original 1918 gymnasium, later movie theater, skating rink, and warehouse

A small building on the NW corner of Collings & S. Chesapeake contains three retail spaces. 

1286 South Collings, Community Thrift Shop, (856) 619-1155
1286 South Collings, Los Chulos Mexican Restaurant, (856) 916-0001
1286 South Collings, Taquería El Popocatépet, (856) 379-6473

1288 South Collings, The Village Laundromat, (609) 962-9622 1987

1290 South Collings, Hair Artistry by Antionette, (856) 962-8366
1290 South Collings, Joey & Co. Salon, (856) 962-5639

Between S. Chesapeake Road and New Hampshire Road

1310 South Collings, Clark's Esso Service Center - the only service station within Fairview Village; we were regular customers
1310 South Collings, Reader's Esso Servicenter, 962-7890
1310 South Collings, Kangaroo Express, (856) 916-1000
1310 South Collings, Pantry 1 Food Mart, (856) 916-1000

The six-store structure on South Collings Road at New Hampshire was part of the original Yorkship Village plan. As in the Square, the upstairs apartments were intended for the shopkeepers.

1376 South Collings, Miriam Beauty Salon
1376 South Collings, Angie's Pizzeria & Steaks, 962-6423

1378 South Collings, Scoops Ice Cream Corner, (609) 962-0878
1378 South Collings, Liberty Tax Service, (856) 962-8662

1380 South Collings, Alexi's Pizzeria & Restaurant, (856) 962-0558

1382 South Collings, Pizza Shanty, (609) 962-6230
1382 South Collings, Bella Napoli Pizza, (609) 962-0344
1382 South Collings, Bruno Steaks,

1384 South Collings, Bill's Sweet Shoppe
1384 South Collings, Mr. Ed's Place, (856) 962-8664 1982
1384 South Collings, Jonathan Grocery, (856) 962-8664
1384 South Collings, Fairview Dojo, NJ State Black Belt Association, (856) 986-3108

1390 South Collings, Garcia Properties Real Estate Agency, (856) 962-0535

1392 South Collings, Lichtman's Liquor Store, (609) 365-0034 1982
1392 South Collings, Fairview Liquors, (856) 962-6969 1987


June 2, 1919

Beyond New Hampshire Road

1398 South Collings, Colonial Food Market

1400 South Collings, St. Joan of Arc School, (856) 962-7226

1402 South Collings, Ben's Barber Shop, (609) 962-6003 1982

1406 South Collings, Quality Cleaners, (856) 962-7488 "Since 1927" 1982 1987

1530 South Collings, Myrtetus Funeral Home, Joseph L. Myrtetus, (609) 963-0307 1982 1987
1530 South Collings, Myrtetus-Doyle Funeral Home, (856) 963-0307

1594 South Collings, Sheehan Veterinary Centre, Edward Sheehan, D.V.M., (856) 962-8080

North Collings Road (traditionally residential)

1155 North Collings, Custom Design Mirrors, (609) 962-6388 1982

1503 North Collings, Public Library (609) 962-6669 1982

1523 North Collings, Akron Printing, Inc., (609) 962-8599 1982

1623 North Collings, Dr. Mark Stern (609) 963-7755 1982

Here and There

2752 N. Congress Road, Fairview Florist (Robert Peoples, prop.), EM 5-1823 1947-1955

2752 N. Congress Road, Forrest F. Lane & Sons, butter EM 5-1849 1947-1955

1684 Minnesota Road, Dr. Murray N. Matez D.O. P.A. (609) 964-1121 1982
1684 Minnesota Road, Lourdes Health Network (856) 964-1121

3007 Mt. Ephraim Avenue, Dr. Harry Haltzman D.O. (609) 964-3321 1982

3009 Mt. Ephraim Avenue, Fairview Insurance Associates (609) 962-6200 1982

3107 Mt. Ephraim Avenue, Dr. S. Hirschberg, Podiatrist (609) 962-6006

1148 North Octagon, Washburn's Candies - started in an addition to the house, later moved to Haddon Avenue

3007 Fenwick Road, Fairview Gardens Cafe (Fairview Grill Association), 964-8124 1982
The pink bar/restaurant/club tucked away on Fenwick Road was a childhood mystery to me. I can't remember ever going inside The Pink Cat, and I retain a lingering impression of sin and disapproval, probably absorbed from my mother. Perhaps this was where hard-drinking men and loose women found each other in those days.


Close Enough To Count

Just outside the boundaries of the village were a number of establishments that were every bit as much a part of the life of the residents as the businesses inside.

The Crescent Theater (3115 Mount Ephraim) 1920s-1981- before its last sad decade as the seedy Venus Art adult theater, the Crescent drew hundreds of Fairview kids to Saturday sci-fi matinees--double features, of course. I remember Beyond the Time Barrier, It Conquered the World, 13 Ghosts, The Day the Earth Caught Fire, and many others. When the concession counter was closed, there was a drink machine which dropped a paper cup, a slug of ice, and a squirt of syrup and carbonated water behind a sliding plastic door, as well as a candy machine with selection handles that took both hands to pull. The building is now a tire store.

McDonald's (2720 Mt. Ephraim) 1982 - the first fast-food franchise in walking distance of the village appeared on the east side of Mt. Ephraim Avenue next to Gaudio's. In its first incarnation, it was walk-up only, with no indoor seating. I remember $.12 hamburgers and $.15 cheeseburgers. Later, there was a 'you can get a meal and change for a dollar' promotion. I liked McDonald's a lot more once I discovered "special orders" - you had to wait a bit, but you could get your burger "plain," and it would be hotter and fresher than the ones from the warmer.

Gino's (2787 Mt. Ephraim) 1982 - you could get to Gino's without crossing busy Mt. Ephraim, which was no small advantage. They also had the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise for the area. Later the Gino's chain built a Rustler Steak House (2781 Mt. Ephraim 1982) next door.

My Friend's Restaurant and Lounge (2643 Mt. Ephraim) 1959-1977 - I remember this as a dimly-lit working-class tavern with a package store attached, squeezed in between the creek and Mt. Ephraim. My father taught me the rules of tipping at dinner here one evening.


Elgin Diner (2621 Mt. Ephraim) 1960-2007, 2010-12 - cheek by jowl with My Friend's was a classic working-class family diner, all stainless steel and Naugahyde (a 1958 Kullman). The booths had jukebox controllers with a big knob that flipped the thick pages of the selections book. My family ate here more than we did at all other restaurants combined. Later, it became a place to stop for fries and a Coke on the walk home to Fairview from St. Joe's. It advertised "Good Food - Carefully Prepared - Pleasingly Served." The diner was demolished in 2014 to make room for a Family Dollar store.
Chubby's 1-1/2 Hearth (Black Horse Pike & Collings Road) 1934-1995 - for more than sixty years, Chubby's was a place Fairview dressed up for. I never knew it as a nightclub, but as a restaurant it represented finer food (charcoal-grilled steaks and shrimp), bigger drinks (1-1/2 shots), and better service (there was someone who did nothing but fill water glasses!) than anything else in the neighborhood. 

Camden Lanes (2630 Mt. Ephraim Avenue) - my father bowled in an evening league here when I was young (though I was never clear whether it was more about the beer or the bowling). He was all power and no spin, with a heavy 16-lb black ball he put down on the rightmost board and aimed dead-straight toward the 1-3 pocket. I seem to remember he averaged over 200. Later, I bowled in the St. Joe's intramural league and on the St. Joe's varsity team here. I averaged about 180 and lettered, using a marbled blue 14-pound ball and a slight hook.

Gaudio's Garden Center & Christmas Mart (2800 Mt. Ephraim Avenue) - destroyed by fire 8 Mar 1981. We bought Christmas trees, holiday decorations, and my mother's annual flat of pansies here. The seasonal display of decorated Christmas trees was no match for the ones at Wanamakers or Gimbels in Philly, but it was still a wonder for a six-year-old.

Giordano Waste Material Co. (2820 Mt. Ephraim Avenue, 962-7604) - my Scout troop did a newspaper drive twice a year as a fundraiser, and we took what we collected here to cash out. But you could see the crane with the giant electromagnet from outside the fenxe.


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Send mail to K-Mac your Yorkship memories to Michael Kube-McDowell, Class of '68