HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BLOCK

BURKE BROTHERS DRUG STORE (Main Pharmacy) The Drug Store was operated by the Burke triplets. Walter P. Burke, a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Chemistry, operated the pharmacy. The store was open from 8:00 am to 10:30 pm. Here prescriptions were filled, sick-room supplies could he purchased, as well as cosmetics, and beach necessities. Apparently, it was difficult to tell the triplets apart. An accomplished runner challenged one of the Burke brothers to a long distance race from Lakewood to Asbury Park. The challenger expected to win hands down and was very surprised to see that the Burke brother had finished the race, and even more surprised by the fact that the Burke brother seemed to have handled the race so much better than the challenger had. What the challenger didn't know is that the three brothers kept changing places during the race. The Burkes had a soda fountain in their store which served soda, ice cream and sandwiches. Customers could be served at the fountain or on the patio under the portico. The door which led to the patio can still be seen, although it is now boarded up. Jerry Fabrey operated the soda fountain and later opened his own soda fountain and lucheonette down the street, one block south.

O.S. CAMP GROCERIES (Casagrande Liquors) Established in 1909, it carried imported foods, "all the leading canned goods of American production", and fresh farm eggs that were brought in three times a week. They also sold liquor out of a barreL Before Prohibition, customers would come in with a jug to be filled.

DALE'S COFFEE SHOP (Dan's Kitchen) This was the original Dale's. It could hold about 25 people so every night people would line up outside waiting to get in. Because it was so crowded, there was a delivery service. Guests at the hotels and residents of Spring Lake would call in their orders. Dale's advertisements in the Spring Lake Gazette were rather unusual. He advertised: "Keep your wife as a pet. Eat at Dale's" and "We cheat you less than the others. Eat at Dale's". Every night Dale ran out of food, which is the way he planned it.

CASAGRANDE'S MARKET (Alan's Butcher Block)
Built in 1920, this beautiful art deco building served as Casagrande's Market until 1982. Casagrande's was a specialty grocery. They specialized in prime meats, fruit and vegetables that were hand picked from the farm markets by the proprietors, specialty foods, and service. Customers called the store to place an order and would ask advice on what to serve with the main courses or how to cook it.	Interior of Casagrande's Market ca. 1930 from The Spring Lake Historical Society collection
The order would then be delivered to the customer's home. Some customers would send a letter to Casagrande's telling the market when the staff would arrive at the summer home and include a list of items they wished to have stocked in the pantry for the opening of the house for the season. At holiday time, customers could order their meat, have it cooked, and delivered. This was a popular service at Thanksgiving. The turkey was ordered, Casagrande's took it to Dale's to be cooked, and then it was delivered in time for dinner.

THE CONOVER BUICK AGENCY AND CENTER FOOD MARKET (Southeast corner of Third Avenue and Jersey Avenue) By the 1920s, horses and wagons became a rare sight on Third Avenue. Deliveries were being made by truck and more and more people were driving cars. The Buick Agency later became the Center Food Market.