Spend many mornings, afternoons, and evenings with Joe Cohen at the appetizing counter in Waldbaums.  Had lots of friends come through the counter with me, like Burt Cohen, Doug Andriole, Bob  Meyerson, and Marcy Fader.

Remember it well...

What about you?

Dave Reiter

Hi Dave,

Steve Gordon here. Now that brought back loads of memories. I'm a '63-'64 alum. Worked under Uncle Morty 1st as a cashier at 16(can you believe we knew how to add, divide for those 2 for 39 cent specials and give back change...without the use of a computer). Incredible, lol. Also spent lots of time with bandaids on my fingers from the  bottle machine under the 1st register, now that was a good time. Also was there when the store was being robbed and Uncle Morty got a nasty knot on the top of his head from one of the robbers. Just remembered that one. Thanks for bringing this up. Hope to see you at the reunion.

Steve Gordon

But since you opened up the old message board it's easier to see all the correspondence. If it was just the New Forum, it wouldn't be as good.

Glad to see there are others with vivid memories.  Hope some of our Waldbaums brothers and sisters reply.

I agree on what you wrote Dawn, and I have expressed that to her.  I like the old forum where you could see all the topics on the top and always see them, I think that stimulated responces.

Hello-Boy do I remember Waldbaums store# 14. I remember the store manager with the greassey black hair and then Uncle Morty the idiot came. I worked when Steve Gordon and Mark Zeitz were stock guys. The cashiers were me-Adrienne Schissell-Laura Benjamin-Lissie Levine-Sandy- Marsha-Joyce Smoller-Nubby's girlfriend Diane. We had a great time. I remember when you guys unlaoded the trucks and I would keep records with the rats running around. I remember-Sallie-Mary-and Sydelle..

I remember hating when we had to level the aisles and the price changes with those stampers and the purple ink got all over your hands. We had fun and knew how to count because the registers didn't think for us.

I could go on for hours I rmember Mr. Sherman who always came the last minute on Friday night at closing to get all the dented cans and big slabs of meat-he was wild.

Well thnaks for the momentto remember some of the best times growing up.It was a great idea to think of us who worked in the neighborhood.

 Oh yes I remeber the robbery That was the first Friday night I had off in months. I remember Laura Benjamin's boyfriend at the time also got roughed up. REgards to all of you.

When the store was robbed, I was in the appetizing department.  We grabbed big knives and were heading out the garbage door to see what we could do.  Well, as the robbers ran across the back parking lot with guns drawn, we dove into the garbage pile to avoid any shootings.  That was scarry then, today those robberies and shootings happen over and over again.

The back parking lot was covered with nickels, dimes and quarters....

What years did you work at Waldbaum's? I think we worked at different times. After graduating Bayside H.S. in '65, I worked in the city and not "down the hill". Then in '66 drafted into the Army.

I remeber that Dave. We "heros" going to the back lot and waiting for them to come out so we could catch them and then scattering when they came out guns drawn. Lol. What great memories.

I worked from early in my senior year(63-64) till about 68, on and off.

Sorry Dave, that last one was for Adrienne to answer. I think she has me mixed up with someone else on her reply.  

Hi Steve,

I worked at Waldbaums during my high school years. I graduated for JHS 67 in 1968 and was the 2nd graduation class from Cardozo. You were older than me but I remember working with someone with last name Gordon. If it was the year we were robbed then you were there with Mark Zeitz. They use to call me Andy when I was there. Sandy Carlin worked with me as well-I was there before her. Anyway those were the good old days and we had a great time.

Hi Andy,

I was there '62-'63, might have even worked alittle in '64, but I don't think you were there at that time. I was in the Army '66-'68. I didn't work there when I got back from Nam. I do not know which Gordon you worked with, but there were a few others, ie, Mark and George Gordon around at that time.

Dave,

I worked at Waldbaum's the Summer of 1962 and 1963.  Had to go to Jamaica to get my "working papers" because I was only 16.  I remember you working under Joe Cohen in the appetizing department.  I remember sneaking in there to get a taste of the chopped liver.

I first worked in the parking lot gathering shopping carts; then unloading the trailers in the back and throwing the cartons down the "chute" to the basement.  Then I graduated to marking the can goods  and other foods on the ball-bearing platforms in the basement and bringing them up the conveyor belt at the end of the day for the night shift to shelve.  

The second summer I filled in for the Dairy and Frozen Foods Managers when they went on vacation. That was a big deal because I had to call in the orders every week. 

Miltie caught me in the frozen foods locker eating an ice cream pop that came from an opened package.  He read me the riot act!  I remember a guy in produce named Otis who was an amateur boxer; we used to box with each other in the basement.

After Milton left there was a young store manager named Joe, he had been in the Navy and treated us like we were in bootcamp, but he let me drive his 327HP Chevy to go pay his monthly car payments.  I was only 18 at the time and that car flew.

 Max Jarolem

Hi Max,

I remember Otis, I used to play at boxing with him in the basement all the time between doing the bottle machine and taking in the delivery. I also worked under Joe for awhile, but couldn't take his regimen, left soon after.

Steve,

It's good hearing from you.  I remember you working at Waldbaum's.  It seemed that at one time or another, most of my friends got a job "down the hill".

There was an older local teenage boy who worked there for many years. I believe his name was Marc.  Does that name ring a bell?  One Summer I was dating one of the checkers at Waldbaums; her name was Linda and she lived in Deepdale but I can't remember her last name either.  Also there was a middle aged checker named Sylvia, who lived in my court in Beech Hills.

I was working at Waldbaums the day Dave Reiter sliced a piece of his finger into a 1/4 lb. of Novi; no extra charge.  He had to go to the ER for stitches.  Guys in appetizing were always cutting themselves especially when the customers were young and pretty and they weren't paying full attention to their knives.

We only got paid minimum wage but I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.

THANKS FOR REMEMBERING.  I ACTUALLY STUCK A HERRING KNIFE IN MY WRIST, AND DID NOT NEED STITCHES/.  ROBERTA BARASH WAS THE ER NURSE AT DEEPDALE HOSPITAL.

TALKING ABOUT WAGES, AT ONE POINT I WAS THE HIGHEST PAID PART TIMER IN THE CHAIN, $.95 AN HOUR.....

GOOD OLD DAYS....

Dave,

You damn well knew that Roberta was the ER Nurse before you stabbed yourself ! knowing this information, how come you didn't stab yourself someplace else ??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kenny

Kenny,I don't remember you working at Waldbaums?   This chat room is reserved for Ex-Waldbaumers only.  I'm sure Dave didn't know that Roberta was the nurse at the ER.  If I had known that I would have taken Dave to the hospital myself.

Dave, I hope that $.95/Hr was just a typo.  I know we weren't paid much but under a dollar an hour was prison wages.  P.S. Did the customer enjoy the herring?  Was it schmaltz herring or herring in cream sauce?

I CAN ASSURE YOU IN THEMID TO LATE 60'S WE ONLY MADE $.95 CENTS PER HOUR!

REMEMBER BACK BOYS, IN 69-71 WHEN I WAS A BUSINESS SCHOOL TEACHER, TEACHING COURT COMMITTED HEROIN ADDICTS ON A METHADONE REHAB PROGRAM, I MADE A WHOPPING $5,600 ANNUALLY, MUCH LIKE NYC TEACHERS.

THE TIMES HAVE CHANGED, NOW I MAKE 1400 A MONTH ON SOCIAL SECURITY!!!!!!!!!!!BUT THIS IS MUCH MORE FUN, AND I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED THE POOL SIDE RELAXATION THIS SUMMER......

Max,

No , I never worked at Waldbaum's but I ate plenty of their lox and herring. I used to order 1/4 lb. of lox- Dave would give me 1/2 lb. and charge me for 1/8 lb. You almost got fired for calling my mother "Honey" out loud !

Kenny

Dave, regarding $0.95 per hour wages at Waldbaums;  My Social Security yearly report still lists my wages from those years.  Hard to believe we were paid so little.  Gas , however, was only $0.27 a gallon and the pizzeria ran a student lunch special; one slice and a small fountain soda for $0.25     How much was lunch in the JHS67 cafeteria?

Kenny, its true.  I addressed your mother by her first name, Honey, when she asked me where to find a product.  Milton, the store manager, overheard  the conversation and took me to the side and repremanded me for poor manners.  I had to explain the whole thing before he would calm down.

Anyone remember the Waldbaums truck driver who played linebacker for the Newark Bears? 

I also drove Joe D.'s 327 Chevy to the Waldbaums warehouse in Garden City Park, near  Roosevelt Race Track, to pickup specials that we ran low on.  I would also walk with Joe D. when he made his bank deposits.  If we ever got robbed, the only thing I had to defend myself with was the price gun.  69 cents....take that!  2 for 57 cents........pow!

Dave -

Don't forget you taught me how to slice lox too! And how NOT to slice my finger!

Other Waldbaum's buddies, circa 1967: Dave Laurence, Bob Merker, Mark Zaitz, Barry Blum.

What a great experience!

Cheers!

Ken

I too worked in Waldbaums from 1968-72.  First  with Joe Cohen in appetizing then stock.  The manager was Jerry McCumsky and then Sid(in so far as)Arnell.  “In so far as” was his favorite expression.  The full time wagonboy, Bobby O'Brien, was a neighbor of mine.  He lived on Thornhill, he was born with brain damage.  After two years I transferred myself to #33, Springfield Blvd., Jerry McCumsky’s store, I couldn’t take Sid Arnell anymore.

There was a big Waldbaums truck driver named Joe, he might have been the pro football player, he was huge. 

Is Kenny Miller still out there?  Or did he pass away?

Does he still think working at EJ Korvettes for a total of one week was better than my experience of working three summers at Waldbauns from 1962 till 1965? 

I remember the truck driver you are referring to.   I worked with the driver in the Summer of 1965.  He did play football for the Newark Bears.   I believe he was a linebacker.  The Newark Bears played semi-pro in the same league with the Westchester Bulls (NY Giants Taxi squad) and the Bridgeport Jets (NY Jets Taxi squad)

Kenny Miller is alive and well, Mr. Jarolem ! First of all, I was at Korvette's longer than 1 week ! We're talking about quality, not quantity. They kept you at Waldbaum's because they wanted cheap labor. You don't know the difference between Schmaltz herring and cherry herring ! You probably drink schmaltz herring ! Take that, Max Jarolem !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Hello all of you Waldbaum's Alum,

My recollection is of Sid Arnell, not sure of the dates he was manager,but his most endearing line was "you want to know what makes the world go round?" " the almighty buck! thats what makes the world go round" I also worked the registers,stock and appi.I can still hear the announcement , when it got busy and they needed another at the cash registers "Steve Lawrence UP FRONT, Steve Lawrence up front" And when I opened up all the customers had the same joke Your Steve? Wheres Edy?"

 Who remembers the guy walking around denting all his cans to get them for .05  instead of full price I think his nickname was denty.

 When I worked appi I think the mgr was Morris

 Those were some good times!

Dave" aka " Steve Laurence

I worked at Waldbaums during 66-67. Sid was the manager, and the asst. mgr. was Leroy Woods.  Steve Patton worked then, and Drew Ricchuti. The highlights were the all nighters working, drinking beer, and eating roast beef and lobster salad from appetizing.

Craig Michaels