Over at oldnewark.com I spotted this photo of a mystery luncheonette. I immediately thought of Rausch's on Roseville Avenue, but it could be anywhere. Anybody recognize it?

Looks like it might be Ratner's on Orange Street, just across from Bodholt's. My mother and brother used to stop there on the way home from St. Rose once in a while for a cherry coke, freshly made at the fountain.

Could have been any one of 50 around the area.

It seems to be pretty well lit.

I don't remember Josie's being that well lit.

Josie's low lighting was just right.

Looks like Rausch's to me.

How about "Tommy's at 4thAve and 10thSt.

I think Tommy's was bigger.

By the way did you remember that Tommy's didn't serve Pizza.Instead, it was always called a Tomato Pie.

it looks like tommys to me

Pizza or Tomato Pie, back then I had just arrived from Ireland and did not eat either one.It looked disgusting. Dinned on his hamburger's and F.F.

Wasn't Tommy's of 4th ave and 11th street?

It looks like "Cindy's" to me too. Didn't she have a "Felix the Cat" clock above and behind the lunch counter? Looks like Felix is up there in that picture to me!

I would have to go with Ratner's. As I remember,they also sold water guns, Duncan yo-yos and other toys.

While we're on the subject of Diners, wasn't there a Belmont's Diner on Orange Street? I seem to recall going there on First Fridays when we got our "break" after early Mass to grab some english muffins. Also, didn't Schulnick's have a counter? I really miss seeing my cherry-coke being made right in front of me! Was it just me, or did everything taste great in a Diner?

I remember going to the Belmont (or was it Belrose?) diner on First Fridays also. They had good jelly donuts. I remember asking the waitress once what made their donuts so good. She told me it was a special raspberry jam that they used for the filling. If I wanted a toasted corn or English muffin I went to Bodholts.

I thought it was Belrose and even had a 'Rose' painted on the awning. I seem to remember the owner's name was Adolph. And you had to hurry if you wanted to get back to school (between First Friday Mass and the start of school). Also remember the .."Bells" on the first one you froze and on the second one you walked to the place where your class lined up...in silence. God forbid you did not stop...running or talking at the first bell. While NEVER crossing the invisible line separating the playground...boys from girls.

I think you are right. I worked there. Abe and Dora
Ratner owned it.

The diner is shown in the photo of 11/16 on this website but the name isn't clear enough to read. I think Belrose is correct.
There was the time I was "too sick" to go to school but chocolate milk and toast sounded just fine. We had walked as far as school before I convinced mom I just couldn't go. (It wasn't a wasted trip since my siblings had to go anyway. Mom thought perhaps some food might make me feel better and I think she needed her second cup of coffee anyway. I ended up at the Belrose with my mom after the school bell rang. I stumbled into a secret world of "Moms Set Free" (for a least a few hours) from kids (at least the school age ones) The moms gathered for a coffee and donuts and the latest gossip. I was fascinated with the women as they sipped coffee, nibbled jelly donuts and kept various toddlers quiet.There was lots of laughter and kidding as they geared up for another hectic day. After an all too brief interlude the group scattered to thier responsibility of keeping families running.
How appropriate that memories of Belrose stirs up memories of moms this weekend. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

I believe that you are right. Loved those cherry cokes!!

My vote is for Ratner's
Where was the Belmont/Belrose located? I can't remember either one of those names.

The Belrose / Belmont..(?) Diner was on Orange Street, one block North of the school.

The picture didn't come up when I hit this posting the other night but I agree with JC and Eileen-- this is Rausch's (aka "Cynthia's") on Roseville and 7th.

That was my patrol boy corner with Steve Scott and we were always in Cynthia's. (Mr Rausch would let us waste time inside in the winter when we'd get to the patrol post too early).

Seeing that candy counter is like going back in time. Penny candies were behind the glass on the bottom and the bigger bars and gum on top were a nickel. Rausch's charged 12c for an ice cream cone--go figure. There were sleek-streak balsa airplanes in the back right and we'd fly them next door in Cole's funeral parlor parking lot.

One of my best early memories is my dad bringing us in there for a chocolate egg cream. Cynthia was such a sweet gal. She seemed to know my dad well, as they would chat effortlessly while we slurped our beverages.

To the right of the gentleman, you can see the start of the wooden phone booth. I remember cleaning the ice cream freezer case at the right. Patty Ryan,67 or all the Ryans for that matter can tell you about all the candy parties we had sitting on the side walks of 7th St. Those were the days.

Texas Joe, tell the 'boys...thanx for A-Rod !!

My vote is for Rausches.Hey bob thats where Don Stefanelli & I were patrol boys.Also when Rausches closed they moved to West Orange,corner of Eagle Rock Ave & Pleasant Valley Way.

Hey Pat,
Rausch's corner was the farthest from the school on the North patrol. We'd get the signal to abandon the post and come to school when the patrol guy on the corner of Bathgate Place would swing his belt in the air. I'll admit that sometimes we'd pretend to miss the signal and get another hot cholcolate from Rausch's and come in late--they never caught on.

PS I can't believe Cynthia's moved to that corner in West Orange... I worked on the other side of the street next to Rascal's and used to go into that store all the time--but the Rausch's probably sold it long before.

Are we mistaken? Can this be Nick's on 7th st. and park ave. in better days?

I'm sure it isn't Nick's.
Not even in the better days.

Hey Roseanne,
Nick's was a classic. But his store didn't look this clean the day it was built!

There are a lot of stories about Nick and his store in these postings. Do you remember when he used to offer a $5 dollar (big money in those days) prize for the highest pinball score of the week-then he reneged on it when the D'Allesandro brothers started winning it every week.

How's Sean doing out in San Bruno? Haven't heard from him in a while.

Bobby......

Do you remember the name of the most popular pin ball machine in Nick's?
It had to be there for at least 10 years.
Jeff Deuel and I, along with probably 6 other guys, used to live on that machine.
For a nickle we could play all day.
When I was younger,around 8 years old, Nick used to sell us loose cigarettes for a penny a piece.
What a guy.
Anyway the name of the machine was called "Cover Girl".

Jeff,
Want to go back in time?
http://www.gameroomwarehouse.com/pinball/cover_girl.html

Our favorite pinball was "Mibs" (Marbles) and a crossword machine. The website listed other great ones: Majorettes (?64), Mayfair (?66). Gottlieb: Ace High (?57), Bowling Queen (?64), Cover Girl (?62), Flipper Clown (?62), North Star (?64), Showboat (?61), Sing Along (?67), Beat the Clock (?63), Mini Golf (?64)

We played at Nicks and also at Dolly's on 4th Ave. Dolly used to put red fingernail polish on some dimes in case we complained about the machine stealing a game.
Apparently some goons would come by and unload the money each week and give the store a percentage. Dolly would get back her coins with the red stripes before the take.

I made up a couple dozen red dimes one time and we fed them into her machine all week. God only knows what happended to Dolly when the "collector" came.

How about the real "Pin" pinball machine at Ting-a-ling's? It had pins (nails) but no bumbers and no flippers. The ball dropped into a numbered hole and they'd pay you off in cash. Rumor was that it was run by the mob. They even kept it in a dimly lit spot in the back which made it look more sinister.

Yeah, my sister went to Garfield and spoke of how kind Nick was to sell single cigarettes to all the grammar school kids.

Hello bobby, had to mention Nick's, the best italian lemon ice in the world served in the paper pleted cups.
Sean is doing well. I saw him last week-end in San Bruno. He played the sheriff in "The Rainmaker" for a local community theater group. It was alot of fun.

Hello bobby, had to mention Nick's, the best italian lemon ice in the world served in the paper pleted cups.
Sean is doing well. I saw him last week-end in San Bruno. He played the sheriff in "The Rainmaker" for a local community theater group.

Nicks was layed out opposite. My sister Linda worked all of H.S. at Rauches', I'm sure that's it.

Something's wrong with the picture!

Gal: "When's he gonna ask me if I would
like a soda float or something..."

Guy: playing around with his drink "I wonder
if she has a boyfriend?"

Here's that Cover Girl pinball machine. Thanks, Bobby Jones, for the photo.

It is Rausch's at Roseville Ave. and 7th Ave. I remember it well because that is where I used to buy my Baseball Cards on the way home from St. Rose of Lima School! I also bought alot of candy there! --- Dennis M.

[edited to include name]

I remember the Felix the cat clock while sitting at the counter