New book about history of Jewish AC area businesses in search of photos

If you or your family had a business in or around the Atlantic City area before the 1960s and you have any photos of the storefront, interiors and/or the founders/owners, you have only a few weeks left to submit them for inclusion in a new book to be published and available in 2009.

"A Dream, A Journey, A Community: a Nostalgic Look at Jewish Businesses in and around Atlantic City" is nearly complete. The hardcover coffee table photo book is the inspiration of local businessman Leo Schoffer - who has done research and collected archival photos during the past six months to make the book possible - and was designed by local artist Susan Weis. Proceeds from the book will benefit the Jewish Community Day School of Atlantic and Cape Counties.

"The development of this book gave us the opportunity to interview people who grew up in the Atlantic City of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s," said Schoffer.

"These meetings evoked fond memories of the businesses that lined the Boardwalk and the avenues from Oriental to Arctic. When one considers that the year-round population of the resort was at its peak in the 1930s with just over 66,000 residents, it is truly remarkable to consider just how many Jewish businesses existed and prospered.

"A changing resort economy and national business marketplace have caused almost all of these businesses to vanish," he said.

"However, vanishing in operation does not mean they are gone from our collective memories."

Photos sought are in the categories of Apparel, Boardwalk Stores, Food & Beverage, Hotels & Motels, Restaurants, Theaters & Entertainment, and Wholesale & Retail. If you have a family photo that shows the people and places of bygone Jewish businesses, contact Publisher Rob Huberman at 487-9000 or email him at publisher@comteqcom.com as soon as possible.