Fornaro's Liquor Store (Rem.)
Pennsville, NJ
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

Cruising along Route 49 in Pennsville, it would have been hard to miss the old signs at Fornaro’s Liquor Store. The freestanding marquee featured a large arrow pointing the way into the liquor mart, complete with colorful stripes and plenty of rusty roadside character. Over on the building, a fancy neon star added another little flash to the Fornaro’s lettering. 07-06

The sign had that weathered Route 66 look, even though it stood just a short drive from the Delaware River. Nothing was particularly slick or polished here. The arrow simply pointed toward the entrance, and that was enough to get the job done.

Fornaro's Liquor Store
Pennsville, NJ
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

Fornaro’s had been a familiar Pennsville stop for generations. Longtime employee Lou Priest worked behind the counter for an impressive 45 years before retiring in 2015. That is quite a few bottles and six-packs passing across one counter.

The store changed ownership and received a major makeover in 2013. Its sales floor more than doubled to about 6,000 square feet, with 22 new coolers and a walk-in beer cave. The new owners kept the familiar Fornaro’s name, but the old arrow, star and neon lettering disappeared during the modernization.

Fornaro's Liquor Store
Pennsville, NJ
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

UPDATE: Not in Pennsylvania as you might have first have thought. Here are a couple photos of Fornaro's. The first photo looking very much like a Route 66 sort of picture but no, this is in a largely forgettable town just south of the Delaware River Bridge in New Jersey. It has a nice little patina of rust that perhaps some can appreciate. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for info. 12-12

UPDATE: Fornaro’s Wine & Spirits remains open at 175 North Broadway. The vintage neon signs have been replaced with modern signage. 08-26