Hackensack Albanian/American club

[johnny g]

I heard there was one back in the late 70's/early 80's...does anyone remember this?

[Homer Jones]

Ol' Homer's brain seems to recall that there was one club; but, two locations. One location was on what was formerly Morris Street which is now Sussex Street. It was behind the Breslin and Breslin building and is now a luncheonette.
The other location was just south of Route 80 near Vreeland Avenue.
The Morris Street location may have been the original location.

[johnny g]

Thanks Homer...My girlfriend's grandfather was part owner of the club, and  her family would have parties there...but she couldn't remember the location. I know on Vreeland there is an Islamic center now...wondering if that was the second location...

[Homer Jones]

It very well could have been; but, I am not sure.

[ericmartindale]

I think the Albanian club was always Islamic-based, and it transitioned into the Islamic group there now. I think it was a name change, not an ownership change

[johnny g]

When did Morris St get renamed Sussex? And why?

[Homer Jones]

I remember taking Mother Jones over there to The Social Security office in around 1980 and the man there told me that the road there in front of the office was being moved because the City made the man who was building those Court Plaza buildings move the road and build traffic lights so that people could get there safely. I guess they were right.

[ericmartindale]

Yes, as part of the Court Plaza project around 1980, the old Morris Street was relocated a bit north near State Street to align with the old Sussex.  And then the city decided to call the whole street "Sussex".  And around the same time, give or take a year or so, the Sussex (and Beech Street) railroad crossings were eliminated. The streets no longer cross the railroad.

[johnny g]

I didn't remember Morris St, at that time I was a youngin who never ventured north of Kansas St...I do remember going up Main St with my father and thinking I was in NYC though. Once I started high school in 1981 taking the 165 all the way up Main to Packards felt like a cross country journey to me

[Chief Oratam]

It sounds to me like the Albanian Club which is now a Mosque on Vreeland Ave.( previously mentioned.)
 Might be Fat Joe's Childrens Theater from George Scudder's  book...it sure looks like it could have been a theater from the outside looking in. ..

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