How about a game? A fun game. A game that mixes history and memories and will take you back to the simpler times growing up in Westfield, New Jersey. We take two businesses no longer in town and ask you which one you like more. Then everyone votes. The one with the most votes moves on until we have one winner: we call it the Historic – Greatest of All Time (GOAT) lost business ever in Westfield, New Jersey. Sound fun?
To honor one of the greatest games, the Summer Olympics, the Mr. Local History Project has been researching lost businesses in Westfield, New Jersey. The game is being played on the “You Know You’re from Westfield” Facebook page, which honors lost businesses Westfielders knew and loved over the past century. If you’re from the area, we’d love to have you follow along and play. The game starts on July 28, 2024. Many don’t know Mr. Local History, who was raised and graduated from Westfield High in 1980, so he knows a little bit about the history of Westfield.
The H-GOAT Westfield Edition FINAL FOUR voting will resume Thursday, September 19, 2024. Take a look
Mr. Local History H-GOAT game Westfield Area Edition
brackets below to see how you’ll vote.
H-Goat Westfield is Down To the Final Four
The Final Four
Coming out of the Elite 8, voters have made what we thought was a major upset. The Music Staff went down to the Rialto Theater, and people remembered The Play Fair with a major defeat over Clark Lanes. Congratulations to all the winners, and we can’t wait to see what you decide will become the Championship matchup.
You can vote for JOLLEY TROLLEY v. THE RIALTO THEATER and THE PLAY FAIR v. WOOLWORTHS starting on September 19.
Meet Westfield’s Elite 8 H-GOAT Contenders
Congratulations to the eight survivors who have advanced from the original 129 businesses in the H-GOAT businesses of the Westfield game. The first four of the Elite 8 include Jolly Trolley, Roots, Rialto Theater and The Music Staff. Clark Lanes, The Play Fair, Lancaster, Ltd. and Woolworth’s Westfield fill out the round.
Don’t Get Stuck on Whether the Businesses are Similar
During the first round, we do try to have similar businesses to vote on. As the game advances, remember you are voting for the one you want to move on until a Historic Greatest of All Time IS CROWNED. The game’s intent is NOT to compare the offering of the bracket’s businesses; you vote on the one YOU WANT TO MOVE ON IN THE GAME. Throughout the game, we’ll post bracket challenges between businesses we’ve lost. To play, vote for the one you want to move on. That’s it.
Game Beginnings
What started as a walk down memory lane became an exciting research project about the history of businesses we’ve lost in the Westfield and surrounding area over the last 50 years. The memories that people keep about these businesses are fascinating to capture. Growing up is so much more than just playing around. There are these indelible marks on us all that we remember: bowling, getting ice cream, having a pizza, sitting at the lunch counter…..whatever. MLH played a similar game in the Somerset County towns of Basking Ridge and Bernardsville, New Jersey, and it was an absolute hit. So, The Mr. Local History Project presents the Historic Greatest of All Time Lost Businesses, or simply: The H-GOAT Lost businesses – Westfield area edition.
H-GOAT Bracketology
To create our brackets, the Mr. Local History Project started by researching as many businesses as possible lost over the last 50 years. We then contacted the public to submit any businesses they felt deserved to be history’s greatest of all time (HGOAT) in the Westfield area. Finally, we grouped in similar fashions and created a series of brackets where people would vote. The winner moves on to the next bracket until we have a winner.
How You Can Play Along
It’s simple: go to the FB Page “You Know You’re From Westfield,” find the open bracket, and vote in that post’s comment section.
Round 1 Voting Closed Tuesday, August 13th
OVER 100+ Westfield Lost Businesses Narrowed to the Round of 39!!!!
FOR THE WESTFIELD EDITION, WE ADDED A FAN-FAVORITE SUGGESTION BONUS ROUND! People voted when the bracket was posted on the “You Know You’re from Westfield” Facebook Group. The businesses in GREEN moved on to the “Round of 39.” (usually 32). The entire game will now play out with the brackets listed at the top of the story.
Round 1 is the foundation of the entire H-GOAT game.
Vote Count for Round 1 – Mr. Local History Project
Over 2,000 votes were made during Round 1 of the Historic Greatest of All Time Westfield Edition.
The Westfield H-GOAT Field – The FIRST ROUND
Over the past year, extensive research has brought us the game’s 100+ participants.
We’ve listened to everyone posting a business they’d like to see in the game. The list is still changing as we evaluate the bracketology. As of Saturday, August 3, here is the list of the game participants: #lostbusinesseswestfieldnj If you like just one bracket challenge, you are in the game. Visit often and vote as new brackets are added. It may be easy now, but it will get more challenging later in the game, we promise. Five groups and a new bonus round will be held over the next five weeks. By the end of the summer, we’ll have a GOLD Medal winner!
Mr. Local History has identified over 600 Westfield, NJ, businesses lost over the decades.
Check out the article with all the names as part of our Westfield history posts. Click Here.
Brooks Betz, the organizer of the MLH H-GOAT, selected First Round Businesses. Betz lived in Westfield for over 25 years and is a trustee and game host for the MLH non-profit.
Arnold’s Restaurant, Arthur Stevens, Austers, Bandstand, Baskin’ Robbins, Block Island Breakout, Brummer’s Chocolates, Cameras Unlimited, Castle Bootery, Clara Louise, Clark Lanes, Drug Fair, Dukes Subs, Echo Lanes, Elm Deli, Elm Radio, Epsteins Bootery, Excellent Diner, Friendlys , Geigers, Greco Roman Restaurant, Hahnes, Hand Feats, Hickory Farms, Hills Ice Cream, J.S. Irving , Jane Smiths, Jarvis Drug Store, Jax Automotive, Jay’s Cycle Center, Jeanettes Gift Shop, John Franks, Jolly Trolly, Lancasters Ltd., Leader Store, Lindeman Buick, Lord & Taylor, Lucchesi Motors, Made in America, Marcus Jewelers, Martins Jewelers, McEwen Florist, McHugh Inc., Meeker’s Garden Center, Milady’s, Moto Photo, Music Staff, Norris Chevrolet, Norwood Auto Parts, Oakland House, Off The Record, Pickwick Village, Play Fair (Tiny Tots), Ralph Evans Skating School, Randal’s Shoes, Rialto Theater, Robert Treat Deli, Roots, Scott’s, Sealfons, Shades Sweets, Sweet Shoppe, Sturnagle’s Nursery, Stuarts Audio, Super’s Cycle Center, T Shirt Emporium, Taylor Hardware, Teds Smoke Shop, The Cheese Shop, The Silver Mine, The Sports Center, Towne Car Wash, Town Deli, Towne House Restaurant, Vance Florist, Westfield Drug Store, Westfield Studios, Westfield Twin Cinema, Whalen’s Automotive, White Diamond, Williams Nursery, Windmill of Westfield, Woolworths, Wyatt Brothers.
80+ participants in the Lost Westfield Businesses Greatest of All Time Game. Source: Mr. Local History Project
Special Bonus Fan Appreciation Round Held
Before we wrapped up Round 1, we listened to everyone who mentioned lost businesses they wanted to see in the game. We listened. So, three additional brackets were added. There are many choices, and THREE (one from each grouping) will be added to Round 2 of the Historic—Greatest of All Time Westfield lost businesses edition.
Food – A&P Supermarket, Acme Supermarket, Charlies Deli South Ave, Colonial Bakery, Dead Ice Cream, Finast Supermarket, Häagen-Dazs, J&M Market, Joe’s Meat Market, Margies Cake Box (Plainfield), NY 8th Ave. Deli, The Sweet Shop, Turner’s Deli, Woof Gang Bakery.
Three Bonus Brackets were added to conclude the first round of the H-GOAT game’s Westfield edition.
Restaurants – Benihana of Tokyo (Short Hills), East Winds, Jade Isle (Scotch Plains), Mojave Grille, Raymonds Restaurant, Theresa’s Restaurant.
Services – Barret & Crane Realtors, Betz & Bischoff Realtors, Clement’s Bros. Fuel, First Federal Savings, G.O. Kellers Cleaners, Gillotine Salon & Haircutters, Greco Steam Clean, Lincoln Federal Savings, McDowells Fuel, Meryl Norman, Nos Vino, Pan American Cleaners, Photo Mat (Garwood), Pro Tour Cycles, Ralph’s Amoco, Station Radio TV & Appliance, Williams Sonoma, Z&S Stationery.
Now You can “Wear Your Westfield Local History”
The Mr. Local History digital team worked to create a complete line of digitized logos from past Westfield businesses that we call our “Wear Local History Collection. Over 50 logos from Westfield, Route 22, Cranford, and more – Check them out here. Dozens of logos are grouped into our Westfield & Cranford collection.
We Will Reach Gold!
Bracket challenges will start loading on Sunday, July 29, 2024, and run throughout the Summer. Voting occurs on the “You Know You’re From Westfield” Facebook page.
Don’t Use Facebook? We Have a Way to Follow Along
If you don’t have Facebook and want to follow along, visit Mrlocalhistory.org and search for our free Gossip Page.
So? What are the Oldest Businesses Still Operating in Westfield, New Jersey?
Many Westfielders during the game asked, “What is the oldest business in Westfield that’s still operating? MLH also found several Westfield businesses that have SURVIVED World Wars, Depressions, COVID-19, and economic downturns during our research. For reference, we added a few government-funded organizations. While they are public institutions, they don’t qualify as private businesses, but we wanted them here for reference. The MLH H-GOAT Westfield Edition Ironman Awards go to the following:
| WESTFIELD BUSINESS | FOUNDED |
| Ferrero’s Pizza | 1971 |
| Towne Book Store | 1963 |
| Infantino Disposal. | 1945 |
| Elm Radio & Appliance | 1943 |
| Brummer Opticians | 1934 |
| Jarvis Lunchette & Pharmacy | 1929 |
| Westfield YMCA | 1923 |
| WHS Hi’s Eye Newspaper | 1923 |
| Rialto Theater | 1922 |
| Echo Lake Country Club | 1921 |
| McIntyres Lawnmower Shop | 1920 |
| Holy Trinity Private School | 1916 |
| Dooley Funeral Home | 1913 |
| Grey Funeral Home | 1910 |
| Westfield Police Department | 1903 |
| Westfield Leader | 1890 |
| Westfield Fire Department | 1875 |
| Westfield Public Library | 1873 |
| Fairview Cemetery | 1868 |
| Town of Westfield | 1794 |
| Presbyterian Church | 1720 |
More MLH Westfield History
What about the Bernstein’s Liquor Store? Did I miss it in the list?
I used to love to visit Westfield, as the stores were mostly unique! Just not inviting to me now!😫
What street was it on?
I am surprised that The Party Stop was not voted for. Everyone rented all of their costumes and party supplies from them. They were there over 40 years.