HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FIRST BLOCK

On the East side of this block there were: James Warner Furniture, Homer Secor's Colonial Tea Room , the Bab's Shop, Phillips Beauty Salon, Harvey Chafey Shoes, Brown and Carmen Sporting Goods, Elsie Rayne Miller Millinery, Rosenson's, Marcucci Tailors, Pedelfords Piano Store, Crisanti Shoe Repair and the Brighton Movie Theater.

Picture from the collection of Maria Marucci

THE LEWIS BUILDING
(ALU Building)

Mr. Charles Lewis purchased the land the livery stable had been on, in 1920 and erected this business building a short time later. It was home to many fine stores and The Colonial Tea Room which was located where Kate & Co. is now. The Tea Room served lunch and dinner and ice cream out on the patio during the summer.
It is fondly remembered for the beautiful view of Divine Park that could be enjoyed with the meal.

JERRY'S LUNCHEONETTE
(Where the Spring Lake Pizzeria is now)

Jerry Fabry originally worked the soda fountain at Hills' Drug Store and then at Burke Brothers Drug Store. He opened his own soda fountain here. Howard Parker worked at Jerry's and then in 1973 bought the luncheonette. Howard, known as the "Big Bopper", had originally been a singer with the Max Ryan Band. Under his ownership, Jerry's provided live entertainment with lunch. Howard was also an excellent baker and was well known for his pies.

MARUCCI THE NEW YORK MERCHANT TAILOR
(1112 Third Avenue)

The Marucci Building - Picture presented to the Borough of Spring Lake by the Marucci Family

Originally located in a small wood building in the middle of the block on the east side, the business was established by Orazio Marucci in 1900. Orazio had come to this country from Riccia, Italy. He stayed in New York for a short time before moving to Spring Lake to start the family tailoring and dry cleaning business. His son Otto Morris (he changed his last name) was actually the first in the family to come to Spring Lake. In 1882, he opened the Otto Morris Shaving Parlor near the railroad depot. He told his father that he would not go back to New York, so Orazio came to Spring Lake.

Frank, another son, took over the tailoring business at age 14 having apprenticed as a tailor at Brooks Brothers in New York City. In 1910, Frank built the Marucci Building as a new modern facility for the tailor shop. He used the northern half of the building for his shop and rented out the southern half. Frank Marucci served as a borough councilman from 1916-1936, and as the mayor from 1936 until his death on Dec. 15, 1956. He was well thought of, and was elected for 40 consecutive years. in 1959, Marucci Memorial Park was dedicated and named in his honor. Washington Marucci is Frank's son. He became borough clerk in 1963 and retired from that position on Jan. 1, 1979.

BRIGHTON THEATER
(corner of Morris and Third, East side)

Otto Morris built the building to include the Otto Morris Shaving Parlor and a theater. Above the theater there was a ballroom. Years after, Criso Crisanti bought the building.

This building was built by Otto Morris

CRISANTI'S SHOE REPAIR

An earlier location of this business was the northwest corner of Morris and Third Avenues. The business later moved to the southeast corner of Morris and Third. Criso Crisanti started working as a shoemaker with his father at the age of 5 in Sorano, Italy (about 150 miles north of Rome). He would get up at 5 a.m. and work several hours before going to school. During World War I, he served in the Italian Army (then fighting on the Allied side). He was captured by the Austrians in the Alps and held as a prisoner of war. In 1919 he emigrated to the United States with little money and even less English. After working as a cobbler in Cranford, Roselle Park, and Belmar, he moved to Spring Lake in 1925. In that same year, Mr. Crisanti returned to Italy and married his childhood sweetheart, Fausta. She was not able to join her husband in Spring Lake until 1927 when Mr. Crisanti was able to get the necessary papers.

Photo taken by Edmond Crisanti

All summer long, Hooks whitened shoes in front of Crisanti's for the guests staying at the hotels in town. He became a bit of a legend because of his skill in polishing two tone shoes, and so guests staying at the hotels, sent their golf shoes to Hooks and to be polished. He often had so many shoes to polish that he worked until midnight. Because Mr. Crisanti was a perfectionist who never took shortcuts, his customers were very loyal. Some of Mr. Crisanti's customers included Jim Ameche, Gil McDougald, a former Yankee infielder, and Mayor Frank Marucci.