Bilow Liquor (Gone)
Red Bank, NJ
Photo courtesy Moon Mullins OX-76

Standing outside Bilow Liquors was this fine old marquee, complete with a big clock that apparently had not told the correct time in years. The sign still made a useful Red Bank landmark, even if anyone waiting underneath it probably needed a wristwatch. OX-76

This Monmouth Street location served as headquarters for the Bilow family’s six-store liquor operation around Monmouth County. The setup was pure old neighborhood New Jersey, with a package store in front and a bar tucked away in the back.

The back bar produced a few stories of its own. Longtime bartender Sal reportedly followed a strict two-spill rule. Spill two drinks and the evening was over, which seems like a pretty good incentive to keep both hands on the glass.

UPDATE: The Bilow liquor store in Red Bank on Monmouth Street is now gone. There is now a restaurant there. Many thanks to BGD for this info. 07-01

UPDATE: Bilow Liquors is gone, and the old clock marquee has been removed. The Monmouth Street block has since been remodeled and repurposed. 08-26

Cedar Liquors (Gone)
Wildwood, NJ
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

The towering sign outside Cedar Liquors was pure Wildwood, with colorful neon, jaunty lettering and a giant bottle built right into the pylon. At night, the animated tubing made it appear as if the bottle were pouring its contents down the sign. Subtle advertising apparently was not part of the plan here.

Cedar Liquors stood somewhere along the busy Pacific Avenue corridor, where glowing motel signs, diners, taverns and boardwalk attractions competed for the attention of passing motorists. The sign fit neatly into the Wildwoods’ postwar Doo Wop landscape, looking less like ordinary liquor-store advertising and more like a small roadside amusement ride.

Liquor stores were hardly scarce around the island. At one point, Wildwood reportedly held more than 60 active liquor licenses within its compact resort boundaries. Even in that crowded field, the big bottle and multicolored neon gave Cedar Liquors a fine advantage after sundown.

These elaborate signs once helped transform an evening cruise through the Wildwoods into a rolling neon show. A driver could follow the glowing motel starbursts, arrows and cocktail glasses from block to block, with the Cedar bottle serving as another unmistakable Pacific Avenue landmark.

UPDATE: Cedar Liquors has closed, and its mid-century building was cleared during later redevelopment. The animated bottle sign was dismantled and is no longer standing. 08-26

Cedar Gardens Liquors (Gone)
Trenton, NJ
Photo courtesy Bob Jagendorf

Here is the roadside marquee for Cedar Gardens Liquors, once part of the sprawling Cedar Gardens complex on Highway 33. The tall sign gave passing motorists a pretty good idea that this was more than an ordinary neighborhood package store.

The property was developed by restaurateur Albert Angeloni on the former site of Betty and Bill’s drive-in. Cedar Gardens combined a large banquet hall with a busy liquor store, creating one of Hamilton’s best-known hospitality stops.

The banquet hall later became Princeton Manor before closing. The liquor store continued under new ownership as Hamilton Super Buy-Rite.

UPDATE: Hamilton Super Buy-Rite remains open at 661 Highway 33. The original Cedar Gardens marquee has been replaced by modern signage. 08-26

Liquor Store
Wildwoods, NJ
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

Check out the definition on this neon bottle outside a Wildwoods Liquor Store. The tightly packed tubing gives the bottle a surprisingly detailed shape, while the glowing LIQUOR STORE lettering leaves little doubt about what was being sold inside.

This was just the sort of sign that lit up the Wildwoods after dark. Along Pacific Avenue, liquor stores, diners and Doo Wop motels all competed for attention with neon arrows, starbursts and larger-than-life objects.

The actual name and location of this particular store remain uncertain, but that bottle was certainly enough to identify the place from down the block.

UPDATE: The liquor store is gone or repurposed, and its neon bottle sign has been removed. 08-26

Liquor Store (Gone)
Mayville, NY
Photo courtesy Jim Zahniser

Here is a faded Liquor Store sign found along the road in Mayville. The weathered lettering has almost blended into the background, but it still gets the message across. Fancy neon apparently was not required here. 01-08

The old storefront served this small village near the northern end of Chautauqua Lake, where summer visitors joined the regular Main Street traffic. By the time of this photo, the place already looked like it had seen better days.

The original name of the business remains uncertain. All that was left to identify it was the wonderfully plain LIQUOR STORE sign.

UPDATE: The liquor store has closed, and its faded roadside sign has been removed. 08-26