The Fireplace

      Many a child growing up in northern NJ had their first restaurant experience at The Fireplace in Paramus. The speed with which orders were prepared, the wooden tables and chairs, and the unlimited pickles all made for an experience etched into many people's memories.

     Times have changed and Covid-19 has put The Fireplace out of business for the time being. I know that during every one of my class reunions there have been tables of revelers munching on hamburgers and swapping stories while sitting around the Fireplace. It was timeless in its appearance and the rapid fire pace of the service. It had what most knowledgeable restaurateurs would call an excellent location next to an off-ramp on Route 17, with a huge parking lot in the back. 

     The line cooks who withstood the heat to prepare our orders were stellar examples of what hard working Americans looked and acted like. They were not maligned or looked down upon. It was a job and while not an easy one, it did satisfy the need to give Mom a break from the kitchen once in a while. It also catered to the people who took to the road and needed a place to rest for a moment and have a meal. Yes, the auto made The Fireplace possible. Much later they did the logical thing and held auto shows in their parking lot. It was a natural combination which celebrated the nostalgia inherent in classic automobiles and drive-in eateries. 

     The Fireplace was almost like the movie American Graffiti brought from the big screen into our daily lives. Of course, The Fireplace was East Coast and the setting of American Graffiti was southern California. No neon at The Fireplace, it was more old world brick. Plus there were no waitresses on rolling skates to bring you your food. You had to stand and wait. The men taking orders could always give you an estimate as to how long your order would take and we accepted their word as bond. Where else would we have gone? Our world had not yet been taken over by fast food chains with outlets clustered around every off-ramp. The only other restaurant in the area was for serious drinkers and was named the Orange Lantern. It is still around but gave up being a relic from the past and now is a Sports Bar.