1922: A CONCERTED EFFORT TO LURE SHOPPERS TO SOUTH WARREN ST.

Here's an interesting composition that I put together recalling an area which was always of interest to me. Most of my trips to downtown (uptown) Trenton were when I was a young boy and Mom Glover would take me there during her visits to pay the Public Service bill and at the same time visit the many stores in the State and Broad area. (Nevius Voorhees, Swern's, Gimbels, Kresge's, Woolworth's, W.T. Grant and countless other center city venues. It wasn't until I got my driving license that I got to explore South Warren Street where I often visited Penn Jersey and So. Warren Street when we went "cruising" an a Thursday night when the stores were open until 9. I am a firm believer that Trenton will once again become a more viable city and already we are seeing the Phoenix rise from the ashes with Mr. Eric Maywar's classic book shop, a barber shop and I am sure more to come. 

1933: THE LEGENDARY CASA LIDO

In its heyday, the Casa Lido was the "IN" spot for local visitors to downtown Trenton. The earliest material I can find on that old Italian restaurant begins in 1933. Hence, until someone more informed corrects me, I will assume that the year 1933 marked the opening of that famous restaurant with the equally famous art deco "CASA LIDO" sign. As we all know, Trenton went through social unrest and rioting in the 1960's and the Trenton I knew and loved began a downward plunge, due not only to the urban problems, but due also to the fact that the malls were popping up all over the area and parking was never a problem as it always has been in the city of Trenton. Going back to Colonial times roads and streets were narrowly laid out. There will always be those of us who love the city of Trenton, and there is currently an attempt to bring back that South Warren Street stretch into a viable stop over. In the 1970's, that beautiful art deco "CASA LIDO" sign was removed and the proprietors of "MAXINE'S" tastefully re-identified the establishment with their version of art deco. Unfortunately those early Maxine years were fraught with problems as anti gay bigots made life miserable for management. Today, Maxine's, Classics Used Books, http://www.classicsusedbooks.com, along with many other gutsy merchants, are valiantly attempting to keep the South Warren Street historical legacy alive. Now, if only some of those state workers would crowd the area for a lunch hour or so each day, they would have an enormous impact on the successful revival of a historic and fabulous stretch of historic Trenton. I wish them well and appreciate their zealous community efforts. The graphic includes a cut and paste of the Classic Book Store on South Warren Street.

This from the Classic Used Books website:

Warren Street

Classics Used and Rare Books on Warren Street has great neighbors. Visit them while you visit us!

• The Big Easy–great food, across the street
• Cafe Ole–gourmet coffee, casual, across the street
• Checkers–best burger, casual, just up the street
• Hummingbird–authentic Jamaican cuisine, casual, just up the street
• The New Downtown Deli–generous portions, reasonable prices, casual. Right accross the street from Classics.
• The Trenton Marriott–around the corner on Lafayette
• Rainbowtown–Chinese food, casual, next door
• Settimo Cielo–Northern Italian Cuisine, fine dining, just around the corner
• State Barber Shop–the mayor of Warren Street, directly across the street
• Subway–right up the street next to Messy Klossetts
• Sunrise Luncheonette–traditional American fare, across the street towards State Street