A Walk through the Neighborhood
David Pacific
By Mort K.
In the ’50s and ’60s, my workplace, Kolko Paper Company (started by my father in 1913!), was a block away from Joseph Avenue, on the corner of Ormond and Kelly Streets. From our business, I could walk to and enjoy so many varied businesses: Cohen’s kosher restaurant, welcomed by a nice greeting from Bess Cohen, and stuffed with a pound of corned beef sliced by Nate Epstein; the Progressive barber shop where, just as the Joseph Avenue barbershops of today, I could listen to the idle chatter of the regulars who congregated there just to socialize. On occasion, ‘Snuffy' would show up and sing a song for all the customers waiting for Nick, Sam, or Herman Kasanov; Oscar Rabin’s men's store and where all suits came with 2 pairs of pants. If I needed some fresh produce there was Meyer Demayo’s fruit store; for fabrics and custom trimmings there was my grandfather's business, S. Kolko and Son.
As I turned the corner from Joseph Avenue onto Kelly Street there it was: the Cotton Club, an institution that was always crowded with people who seemed to be very happy. Toward the railroad station, on the corner of Joseph and Central, another type of entertainment was offered: the ladies of the night could be seen looking out the window on Ward Street.
One of my most vivid memories of my business years at Kolko Paper is when someone from the neighboring Nusbaum Shule (synagogue) would come in and ask for someone to make the religiously required ten men "minyan," as they were one short. Since I was the youngest brother, I was sent. For my brothers and me, our favorite synagogue was the Leopold Street Shule (now the 15th Tabernacle on Harriman Street!) because they had a 6 am service and we could be at work by 7 am. On the walk to work, I could stop off at Stein’s bakery and pick up the best rye bread in the world! They also sold the best jelly donuts with powdered sugar.
There were many other gastronomical delights to be had on Joseph Avenue, none better than a barbecue sandwich (heavy on the hot sauce!), at Fox's Deli. Only Irving Fox could make it in a way that was memorable for me. These were favorite Joseph Avenue experiences for all of us...