Downtown Trenton, 1929

Downtown Trenton Harry Podmore 1929 Although there were a disproportionate number of professionals (Physicians, Attorneys, Certified Public Accountants, Dentists), most reverted to the family business of selling merchandise. However, they did it on a much larger scale. Trenton was known for its ‘downtown.’ Between Willow and City Hall, there were 100’s of stores, both small and large. The interesting fact is that most of them were owned by the sons and daughters of ‘Jewtown.’ During the era of the 1920’s, Jews had difficulty getting onto college, if for no other reason that they were Jewish. If they were ‘lucky’ enough to attend college from 1929 on, they returned home to support a Depression-starved family. Downtown Trenton had been a busy commercial district after the Greene St. (Broad St.) overpass forded the Assinpink Creek. In addition, it originally housed the most prominent families of Trenton, such as the Roebling’s, the Kuser's, etc. The retail trade in Trenton saw its heyday in the 1930’s 1960’s. Jews owned most the major Department stores in the downtown area, bordered by State St, from Montgomery to Warren Sts. Dunham’s (Charles Levy and Jules Aresty and later the Plapinger Brothers); Swern’s (Swern family), Goldberg’s (managed by Wolf from the Federated Department Stores), Yard’s (Buddy Hano) and Stern’s. Men’s Stores Croyden (Holland Brothers) F. W. Donnelly Mens’ Clothiers (Gene Howard) Eton Clothes – Levin Family Robinson’s – Murray Robinson George’s – George, Herman and Harold Lavinson Joe Finkle’s Furnishings (Joes Finkle) Men’s Shoes Handis Shoes Schulman Shoes Fischer’s Shoe Store (Abby Haveson) Josephson’s Shoe Florsheim - Florsheim –Geo Weiss Kahn's "Treadeasy" shoes Ladies Stores Charm Aronson – Bill Aronson Stacy’s – Bob Albert 

Rifkin’s – Evelyn Rifkin 

Lillian Charm (Lillian Charm) 

Lavenson’s Joyce Women’s Clothing – (Charofsky) 

AS Beck Miller – Isidore Miller Women’s Shoes 

Kitty Kelly 

National Shoes (Joe Hayfer) 

Jewelry Stores Siegel’s Jewelers (Irving Siegel) 

Walter’s Jewelry (Rae Walters)

Kind’s Jewelers (Sam Kind) 

Dietz Jewelers. Miller and Leavitt 

Litmann’s Jewelers – Steve Holzman) 

Jewelry – Haskel Levinststein 

Furniture Stores Spiegel’s Ethan Allen Furniture 

Tire Stores Black and Freidman Richman Tire 

Appliance Stores Bea Greenberg's 

NJ Plumbing Supply, (before she became "Mrs. G", 

Trenton Lighting – Morris and Max Levine Harold Feinberg appliance BOB Binders – 

Lightings fixtures Floor Covering 

Nath Floor Covering Trenton Floor Covering – 

Levie Brothers – Morris, Max 

Printing Press Mort Parker Manufacturers

Circle F – Ed Ring 

Homasote – Irving Flicker 

Neapara Rubber - Rosenthal Horsman 

Doll – Harry Freidman See Koslow 

Clothing Manufacturers Metropol Clothing Co. (Walcoff) 

Baxter Clothing 

Hardware Levy’s 

Hardware Olinsky 

Hardware Lumber Millner’s’ Lumber - Artisan Ave. - Irv Millner – 

Ajax Lumber – So Broad St. 

Lavine Insurance David Rosenberg Marvin Gandelman

News Dealer Harry Levenson Whitey’s Newsstand – Warren St

 Advertising I. Louis Finkle 

 Albert Finkle 

Specialty Stores Sam’s Shoe Repairs (Sam Lavinthal) 

Luggage – (Abby Botwinick) 

Norman’s Gift Shop – Arnold Norman and Ted Henschel

 Hal’s Record Shop 

Patio Furniture (originally Extension Toys) Max Intrologator, 

 Richmond Bus Company – Sidney Sussman and Arthur Levie 

Sack’s Dishes 

Trentonian Newspaper – Sam Jacobs 

For 1937 City Directory of Downtown Trenton