“ Remembering Yesterday For The People Of Tomorrow “
P.O. Box 118 ▪ Haddon Heights, NJ 08035
Bulletin WWW.HHHISTORICAL.ORG
Volume 49 Number 3 July 2024
We meet on the 3rd Monday- April, July, & October. 4th Monday- January: 7:00pm– Haddon Heights Library
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JULY 15 Meeting Reminder:
The rivers of South Jersey have played an important part in the lives of the indigenous people of the area and impacted the successive waves of arriving Europeans. Dr. Claude Epstein, professor of Environmental Science at Stockton University and author of No Wild Rivers in South Jersey. An Environmental Biography will tell us how our rivers have formed our South Jersey communities, economy, and lives. All are welcome at the Haddon Heights Library, 608 Station Avenue. Meeting starts at 7 p.m.
Lindsey’s Family Food Market & John’s Friendly Market 622 Station Avenue was built as a
grocery store and has served Haddon Heights as a Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, Lindsey’s Family Food Market, and John’s Friendly Market. A&P was founded in 1859 in New York City and sold tea and coffee. However, by 1912, it had become a grocery store chain with 400 stores. I believe that 622 Station Avenue
LINDSEY’S FOOD MARKET CIRCA 1959
was one of these stores by 1912.
Lindsey’s Family Food Market & John’s Friendly Market Continued
The wood shelving is most likely the shelving that was used to sell the Jane Parker store brand
products that made the A&P so profitable and successful. In 1932, Richard “Dick” Lindsey helped open the new A&P at 125 East Atlantic Avenue. Some still refer to that location as the Department of
Motor Vehicles and some as the Heart House. Mr. Lindsey eventually became a supervisor over 10 A&P stores in the area. My research has not found who operated a food store at 622 Station Avenue between 1932 and 1948, but Dick Lindsey purchased the building and opened Lindsey’s Family Market in 1948. He placed the following ad in the Directory of the Borough of Haddon Heights 1948.
Lindsey’s Friendly Food Market
Seventh and Station Avenues
Haddon Heights, N.J.
Free Delivery “Ring—–We Bring” Phone H. Hts. 2-6132 It is interesting to note that the present-day phone number for John’s Friendly Market is 856-547-6132.
In an article that appeared in the August 5, 1968, issue of the Courier-Post, Mr. Lindsey explained how and why he was able to thrive surrounded by supermarkets. “I can’t compete with them on price. I can equal their price on the regular items but I can’t on their specials. I have to attract my customers through service and personal attention to their needs.”
To Lindsey, the retail food business had divided itself into three categories — the chain store, emphasizing price and a wide selection, the convenience store, which charges higher prices but provides a variety of snack items and stays open late, and the neighborhood store which emphasizes service. Call it Lindsey’s or John’s, it has always been about service and quality.
Dick Lindsey sold his store to John Johnson, a thirty-year employee in June 1975. This action caused the town to divide. If you had grown up in Heights, you called the store Lindsey’s. Newer folk called it John’s. To this day, some people still will tell you it use to be Dick Lindsey’s store.
Mr. Johnson continued Lindsey’s tried and true successful practices. A quality meat section was still important. “Customers like meat cut specially for them, not pre-packaged.” John also initiated the selling of sandwiches at lunch time. Rather long lines formed for the made to order sandwiches and subs and still can.
Lindsey’s Family Food Market & John’s Friendly Market Continued
Long before the supermarkets had online delivery, John’s accepted telephone orders for home delivery. But service has always been the secret of success for John. Up until the twenty-first century, many people kept an account at John’s. You could send your child up to the store where an order could be place, or a few items purchased, such as popsicle or candy. A tall metal box would be opened, the alphabetical customers account found, and the purchased recorded. Once a month, the customer was expected to stop in the store and pay the account off. Many people will tell you that John almost never called or asked for the account to be settled. Many people will tell you they had to ask for the bill. More people will tell you how John carried the family for months during a hard time. John always wore a red jacket when working. Eleanor Ives writing in the Suburban newspaper noted that “Friendship and friendly are key words in his life.” John was honored through the years. The Haddon Heights Fire Department spoke of the many times he would send doughnuts and coffee to the men when they returned from fighting a fire. He was named Man of the Year by the Haddon Heights Rotary Club for his contributions to organizations and individuals in need of a helping hand. Since his deeds were done quietly and without fanfare, he was always a little surprised and embarrassed with all the attention.
When John died, May 10, 2011, his two daughters, Josie Doto and Gretha Pole, and son-in-law, Dave Pole, decided to continue running the store which meant so much to their father. They have done so successfully and generously to date. Please attend our meeting to continue stories about Lindsey’s and John’s.
COMING EVENTS
- H. Historical Society Meetings:
Summer Meeting Monday July 15, 2024 All meetings begin at 7:00 pm – Haddon Heights Library – lower level
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2024 Historical Society Board
President-(2022-2024) Elena Hill Vice-President-(2022-2024) Bob Hunter Past President- Margaret Westfield Treasurer-(2022-2024) David Somerville Secretary- (2022-2024) Lauren McBeath Trustees- (2022-2024) Ken Funkhouser Vacant
Peter Hill
COMMITTEES / CHAIRS
Newsletter Editor VACANT Membership Chair Joan Rossler Web Master Morgan Sanabria Nominating Comm. Bob Hunter/ Peter Hill
Borough Council Liaison VACANT Historical Society Affairs VACANT Merch/Fund Raising Joan Rossler Programs/Publicity Peter Hill Program/Membership Dev. JP Gentile Digital Photographer Amy Schmidt
CONTACT THE BOARD :
WWW.HHHISTORICAL.ORG
Mail correspondence and Dues to:
P.O. Box 118 Haddon Heights, NJ 08035
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Haddon Heights, NJ 08035
P.O. Box 118
Haddon Heights Historical Society