The Relatively Recent History of the Wigwam by Those Who Lived and Remembered It – As of 3/7/2014
Barbara Potash shared your photo.
The Ramapo Wigwam as it was officially called was opened around May 1966 by my parents and the Parettes as partners, it was to be an Old Fashioned Ice Cream parlor. My mother ran a contest in all grammar schools to actually name the store. The winner received a prize. If my memory serves me, doubtful at our age, but it was to open around time of the opening day baseball parade. Work was started in 1965 to do total renov. Inside of it. I do remember Mrs. frank was one of first waitresses and it was to be a family ice cream, hamburger, etc place. As the older kids started hanging out and families stopped coming in, my parents sold out to Carmine and Marie after shorter than 1 year.
It was Bush store long before around the ’50s, then dry goods store, then actually Oakland Butcher shop. The butcher shop eventually moved into Seels shopping center and building vacant.
Hey Gang….Does anyone remember when the Oakland Market (aka Bush Store) closed, when the Wigwam opened and when it closed? My guess is that the Bush store closed around 1960 with the advent of the Grand Union. Thanks in advance.
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Kevin Heffernan Thank you.
Kevin Heffernan
Hey Gang….Does anyone remember
Tim Riley I remember it well.
when the Oakland Market (aka Bush Store) closed, when the Wigwam opened and when it closed? My guess is that the Bush store closed around 1960 with the advent of the Grand Union. Thanks in advance.
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Pete Emmons, Sherri Wanda, Kristin Foster and 7 others like this.
Rick Filardi That’s a great pic I rember when that station wagon in the pic hit me on my moped and took me up franklin ave on the hood thanks smileys taxi
Yesterday at 2:02pm · Like · 2
Leslie Valente I think it was later than 1960. I would say after ’64. I graduated jr high in 1966. I thought the wigwam opened right around then. Anyone else know?
Cindy Frank My mother started working at the Wigwam around ’66-67. I want to say I remember it being there when I was in HS and I was at IHHS from ’76-80.
Yesterday at 4:18pm · Like · 1
Rick Simonson Oakland mkt?…I never even knew that’s what it was originally,I just remember the wigwam and smiley’s taxi
Leslie Valente No it was a general store of sorts in the 50’s. I remember going with my mom.
Leslie Valente It was definitely the Wigwam in 66-67 when I was a freshman.
Tony Fowler Kevin, my wife worked for Irving Bush @ his insurance business next to the Wigwam in 69-70.
Ted Barber Was this next to the post office? Wigwam circa 1963? · Like
Rick Simonson that’s right…i forgot about the post office just the other side of the center island,backed up to the rr tracks!
Frank R Gabelman In the 50’s I remember it being a meat market.
Leslie Valente I remember a lot of dry goods…oh dear! Lol! are we getting old???
Yesterday at 6:54pm · Like · 1
Sean Conway Stay away from that place !
Tony Fowler Old yes, Spry Yes…
Marilyn Peck Holman It was the Wigwam when I moved to town in 1962 … Grand Union was already there … in case that helps
Pam Storrer My memory doesn’t seem to serve me well these days, but I do not remember the Wigwam although I graduated from HS in 1966. I remember as a child it being Robert’s Dry Goods Store. The Grand Union opened when I was either in 6th, 7th or 8th grade, circa 1959-1962?
Pam Storrer I guess I could ask my Dad if he remembers.
Tony Fowler I can remember when the Grand Union was on the opposite side of the Copper tree mall, it was in the 50’s, I would go with my Mom, super markets were pretty new at that time so it was fun with plenty to see. In the summer the Carnival would set up in the field to the right of the GU.
John Mattera I used to work part time at the Oakland 5&10 in 1963 and the Wigwam was open.
Rick Filardi The five and ten was awsome
Rick Simonson think the grand union was still there half way through the 60’s,i remember that and having the carnival behind it!…and i remember the 5&10!…and let’s not forget seal’s,it was the candy store at the other end of the strip mall
Craig Martin Off topic (i know , i know) I worked at sunoce station middle of town , circa 1968
5 hours ago · Unlike · 1
Rick Simonson was that “unger’s” then?
Kevin Heffernan
Hey Gang….Does anyone remember when the Oakland Market (aka Bush Store) closed, when the Wigwam opened and when it closed? My guess is that the Bush store closed around 1960 with the advent of the Grand Union. Thanks in advance.
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Like · · Share · Yesterday at 1:55pm
Jill Christmann Kicinski I worked there!!
Pete Emmons I think you’re right about Bush’s Market closing around 1960, maybe a year before that. In between that and the Wigwam I remember Robert’s Dry Goods first, I think they were originally across the street somewhere in a smaller store. After that there was a bakery there, I don’t remember how long that lasted so possiblly there may have been one or two other businesses there before Carmine took over.
Yesterday at 6:42pm · Edited · Like
Ed Enderlein Great picture. Brings back strong memories. I must have stood and talked with the guys and gals on every inch of that sidewalk, before cruising to N.Y. for the evening.
How The Wigwam Got Its Name
Hey pal, nice piece on David C. Bush. Do you know how that building got the name Wigwam? The story I remember hearing was that it was a name submitted (by drawing/lottery) by the little brother of Viet Nam MIA Peter Cressman (for whom the bridge is named) whose other brother Steve was my classmate. They lived at the top of Oneida. Let’s try and have lunch if you have time in the next few weeks. Hope all is well.
by Richard Walker
My wife and I believe that Bier’s Market (sp.?) predated the WigWam. We also remember a very large man (Mr. Bier) reaching up to the high shelves with a pole to bring down canned goods for his customers. Does anyone share this recollection, or was Bier’s in a nearby store?
James O’Connor More Police officers could be found there(at the 2nd Precinct) that at The Police Department’s main bldg. Talk about safety, LOL
Harold Bush Bush’s Market my grandpa’s i lived in the apt above
Sue Proskey March not a bar Cathy Miller Best – in my time it was an after school gathering place for the cool kids who went to have burgers and soda. It was a morning gathering place for the men who went to have coffee and solve the problems of Oakland.
Harold Bush It was Bush’s Market up to the late 50’s.I remember stacking cracker barrels and openening cases of sugar cookies .
Ed Zindel Wasn’t the WigWam Bier’s Market?
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