Video: Christmas in Bellmawr

The Christmas in Bellmawr Holiday Event is taking place this weekend at the Bellmawr Recreation center on Creek Rd. I stopped in on Saturday night to check it out... and simply, Bellmawr residents if you haven't visited yet you better get over there 'cause its worth the trip! You have one last chance this year on Sunday December 14th. The weather was perfect on Saturday and looks like it will be even better on Sunday (partly cloudy and 45)

The last night for the event is Sunday December 14th, 6-9pm.

The town, volunteers, and Business Sponsors did a great job setting this up... and it obviously took a lot of time and effort.

So I am trying something a little new with this post. Video! I went over with my camera and a new camcorder.... and after having some technical difficulties with the necessary tripod for still photos at night, I decided to try out the video.

Now go easy on me. The video may be a little amateurish or tacky, and it ends abruptly.... but remember its Christmas!

Two quality versions:
Youtube's new High Def WideScreen format
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqwpi7c1zYY&fmt=22

Normal Quality Wide Screen format:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqwpi7c1zYY

If you have a "Not-old" computer than try the High Def version at Full Screen!

Its a great lil camcorder, but with the low light... especially shooting the displays at a long distance... it gets a little washed out. I hope to record more town video in the future.

Bellmawr's $300 Million Dollar Company

UPDATE: See below. Prior news article, and recent construction... indicate this Company's headquarters office is moving to Westville!
South Jersey Magazine's most recent issue published an article on how certain South Jersey companies are surviving the economic storm. Included in the article, are South Jersey's Top 10 Public and Private Companies (revenue based).

Many know that Billion Dollar Holman is based in small town Merchantville. And University gift giver Rowan Industries is located in quaint Rancocas.

But I think everyone would be surprised to know that making it into the Top 10 Private Companies of South Jersey, is one headquartered in Bellmawr. This company has 2007 sales over $300 million dollars, and 2,200 employees.

I can almost guarantee that at least once a week every Bellmawr resident drives by this Company... if not every few days.

Give up?



The Company's relatively small Corporate Headquarters are located in the old Super Fresh Supermarket... and there is an irony in their location.

The $300 million dollar, 2200 employee Bellmawr Company is...

Browns Super Stores, Inc.

We know them best as Brown's Shop Rite in Brooklawn, NJ located right on the border to Bellmawr. Of course, that store does not have 2,200 employees so apparently the Brown Company has been building quite an empire of stores at multiple locations.

To specifically call-out the offices location, in the back of the Old Superfresh (now home to Retro Fitness and Stardust Ballroom) is a simple metal grate stairway leading up to second floor offices. There is a small, nondescript sign indicating Browns Shoprite. I can only guess that these were the offices for the single Super Fresh, and now they run a chain of stores from this location.

Nice Job Brown Family!!!

Maybe we should be hitting them up for more town event sponsorships!!! :-)

To read the full article, pick up the latest South Jersey Magazine, Volume 5 Issue 9.
For other details: http://www.southjersey.com/

Update: A NJ.com Forum reader pointed out that Brown's Shoprite has been remodeling the old J.E. Berkowitz building on Delsea Drive in Westville.

I googled for other stories before posting, but didnt find this one!
http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2007/06/25/daily19.html

My blog post was done the same day the South Jersey Magazine arrived at my door, and it does quote 2007 numbers. Still makes for an interesting Bellmawr story, but it always best to get the most up to date info out there.

Bellmawr Building Bought: $2.8 Million

The Philadelphia Business Journal published today that Children's Choice of New Jersey paid $2.8 million dollars for a 40,000 sq ft building in the Bellmawr Industrial Park.

While its exciting to see a new business move in, and an unused building find new life, the article does state they are a non-profit... so does that mean we lose property tax dollars?

In the very short blurb, there is no mention if this is going to be a daycare, or offices for the day care Company.

Previously the Building was best known as the location for law firm Farr Burke Gambacorta & Wright. I couldn't find what happened to that firm.

Article Link

Taken January 2008
(Yes, I actually drive around and take pictures of random stuff when I am bored!)

As a side note, one of that law firm's founders, William Farr, became a known local historian, and working with the Camden County Historical Society published information on the County, including his "Waterways of Camden County"

CAMDEN COUNTY'S PROFESSOR OF PLACENAMES
Inside Historian William Farr's 40-Year Quest to Get it Right

WATERWAYS OF CAMDEN COUNTY
A Historical Gazetteer by William R. Farr

Brooklawn Diner - New Sign

I noticed the Brooklawn Diner put up a new sign this week. The old sign goes back a long time, probably to when the diner was first built. I remember at one time when the diner was "ship" themed, the sign was shaped like a ship or submarine, but I can't remember exactly now.. or if that's what is was immediately prior to being taken down!

Anyone have a picture of the old sign? Or even the original restaurant?

Regardless, the new sign looks very sharp... professional. Does help dress up the front of the diner and even jazzes up the circle a little bit.