Freedman’s Bakery and the Wild Syde on Route 88 are closed. The Wiz in the Brick Plaza is closed. The old movie theater in the Kennedy Mall Shopping Center is closed and gutted out.
I grew up in that old Kennedy Mall, even before Cost Cutters was there. I was at the movies constantly. It was Loews when it closed, but when I first saw "Star Wars" there, it was called Music Makers Theaters. Now its popularity is due to the Outback Steakhouse.
Freedman’s Bakery was another fun place. It was convenient and had great rolls and brownies. The old-timers who hung out there were friendly. Most of them played the lottery next door at Shore Pharmacy where I used to work.
These empty buildings had a past for a lot of people in this town. People have good memories and associations with them. Why hasn’t anyone bought them and made them into something nice? –– a place where new associations and memories can be made for a new generation. Instead of over-expanding, we should just re-create.
Darren DeBari
Brick