In days of olde, the YMHA at 211 Essex Street was the Young Men's Hebrew Association which was referred to by many people in town as the Jewish Y. This was to differentiate it from the Young Men's Christian Association on Main Street at Passaic Street. The Y had a large swimming pool at the rear where the parking lot for 211 is now located.
Just to the West of the Y stood Petrullo's (sp) Restaurant which in the 80's became the Players Club. After the City widened Polifly Road and put in the concrete walls leading to Essex Street , the Players Club had outdoor seating which was very pleasant and possibly under the radar.
For whatever reasons, the Players Club served it's last players and after all sorts of ideas were floated around, Rite Aid and the building behind it took over the site.