HILLSDALE—Fries and a Coke, anyone? We have a sneaking suspicion that many people reading this pulled up a seat at this luncheonette counter on more than one occasion. You could buy anything from a barbecue grill to a pet goldfish at this business, which operated on Broadway in Hillsdale, near the Woodcliff Lake line, in 1968. Valley Fair, the first shopping center in town, was under ownership of the Ganguzza family. The luncheonette photo was taken around 1962.
At about 60,000 square feet, Valley Fair was a discount department store that sold just about everything under the sun. If you were a kid in 1960s or ’70s you might remember heading up to the toy department, or maybe to the “pet shop” where they sold small animals, while mom was perusing the clothing, shoes or housewares. Teens could pick up the latest record from their favorite band (at a time when kids bought, instead of downloading, music).
Valley Fair was also a stop for pharmacy needs, garden supplies, sports equipment, hardware, automotive supplies, and much more.
Valley Fair closed in the late 1970s and reopened as ShopRite supermarket in 1979. ShopRite continues to do business here more than 40 years later.
— Kristin Beuscher is president of the Pascack Historical Society.