Looking back: West Milford 40 years ago

Plans to demolish an existing A & P supermarket building in the Union Valley Road, Hewitt eight-acre “West Milford Shopping Center” with a new company store replacement were announced in 1996. The new building was completed and approved for occupancy by Township of West Milford officials, many of whom attended the Grand Opening in 1999. This was the third time an A&P supermarket was located in the township. In the late 1920s, the store was in a small building on Greenwood Lake Turnpike overlooking the south shore of Greenwood Lake. The second market location was in a new A&P building on Union Valley Road across from Our Lady Queen of Peace Church. That building was demolished and replaced by the existing building. The business finally closed when the A&P Company liquidated all locations in 2015. Cosmos, the latest of a couple of other unsuccessful supermarket chains in the existing building failed to attract enough customers for profit.

A year earlier in 1995, the Passaic County Planning Board approved a revised site plan for completion of Shop-Rite’s 16,600 square foot expansion project on Marshall Hill Road being completed, but officially, the plan still needed additional approval by the West Milford Planning Board. The township was charging store owners fines because the new section of the store was opened to shoppers without approval of the necessary certificate of occupancy. Local shop owners and shoppers were upset that one of the former entrances/exits to the parking lot was barricaded to prohibit traffic. The board suggested a specific way for Shop-Rite to improve the roadway but did not give a timetable for having the work completed. Continuing to prohibit left turns at the Marshall Hill Road parking lot, Passaic County was preparing to install the traffic light at its present location at the Union Valley/Marshall Hill Road intersection, an extremely dangerous traffic location at the time.

Leaders of Upper Greenwood Lake First Aid Squad told the township officials in a letter they were thankful “but no thanks” in refusing a $40,000 donation toward a squad ambulance purchase. The volunteer group would need to pay an additional $60,000 or more for the purchase to happen. The township representatives stipulated that the town would retain ownership and control of the ambulance. The UGL letter noted that when the UGL squad decided to put a building addition on their squad headquarters they went to senior citizens, auxiliary and the UGL community and always got needed support.

One of the many successful local businesses in 1996 was Scott’s American Cleaners in the Belcher Run shopping center, 1590B Union Valley Road. In September the owner offered 10 percent off the regular dry-cleaning price. Along with cleaning, tailoring and alternation work they boxed and preserved wedding gowns, cleaned drapery and blinds, did shoe repairs, rented tuxedos, stored furs and did rug cleaning.

The Grand Opening was in 1999. “West Milford Shopping Plaza” was the name then given to the eight-acre shopping parcel of land in Hewitt. Steve Heller, construction manager, quoting an engineer, said state wetlands approval permits were received but it was preferred not to build the septic plant in the back of the building near wetlands with Belcher’s Creek close by with proper drainage another concern, This was the third time an A&P store was located in Hewitt. The first store was a small building on Greenwood Lake overlooking the South shore of Greenwood Lake.

Scott’s Great American Cleaners in the Belcher’s Run shopping center at 1590B Union Valley Road offered 10 percent off the regular dry-cleaning price. Along with cleaning, tailoring and alteration work they also boxed and preserved wedding gowns, cleaned drapery and blinds, did shoe repairs, rented tuxedos and did fur storage and rug cleaning too.

When $40,000 aid to Upper Greenwood Lake First Aid Squad came with strings attached the squad told the Township of West Milford “thanks but no thanks.” Squad President Eileen Casbaro told township officials they were thankful for the “generous support” but the offer was declined. They were grateful for the help but the squad would be paying $60,000 or more for the balance of the purchase. The township wanted to register with township ownership and the squad felt since they had collected and saved money to be well over the cost of the new ambulance it was only right that they retain control and retain the ambulance. The letter noted that when the UGL squad decided to add onto their building, they went to senior citizens, auxiliary and UGL community asking for support and always got it.

There was a local movie theater in a building that was demolished and replaced by a TJ Max store today. There were other businesses in the original building too, including a Subway sandwich restaurant and an arcade business in the store space at the end of the building. The township, unapproving longer arcade hours was approved with Councilman John Mulligan pointing out the Arcade owner “has done a nice job.”

Looking back: West Milford 40 years ago

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