Willow Grove Park Mall

     Wednesday, June 11, 2025: The last few times I was at the Willow Grove Park Mall, 2500 West Moreland Road, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania (215-657-6000) was in 1997 and ‘98 when I went to see a certain celebrity. During my two times there, I only met the famous person in a store, and then I ate at the food court. This particular mall used to be the sight of Willow Grove (amusement) Park from 1896 to 1975. Afterward, the developers built the current mall and opened it in 1982. In 2015, I saw a fake version of this mall in the Sony Studios atrium, Culver City, California (the former MGM Studios). In the 2000s TV show, The Goldbergs, whenever there was a scene that took place in the Willow Grove Mall, it was filmed at the storefronts and pizza place in the Sony’s atrium lobby. Therefore, I finally decided it was time to go take a tour of the real mall. What I first noticed were several cars parked outside, and inside, there were a number of people in the mall. Then I learned that Willow Grove Park Mall has been the third-most profitable shopping mall in the Philadelphia area after the King of Prussia Mall, King of Prussia, PA, and Cherry Hill Mall, Cherry Hill, New Jersey. After I toured this mall, I now know why this mall has been doing so well: different stores selling different kinds of merchandise, not just clothing; different price ranges from budget to moderate to upscale; and there were other things to do besides shopping: eating in the food court and a few different restaurants, as well as a two story arcade that also included several video games, pinball, virtual reality, bowling, golf, laser tag, a few amusement rides, etc. This place alone could keep one interested for a few hours! Meanwhile, the mall also provided, for the price of a ticket, a carousel and a few amusement rides for children. As for the stores, I saw four anchor department stores along with over 130 smaller stores of the usual brands that have been found in most malls, as well as a few stores unique to this mall. In addition to clothing, shoes, and accessories for men, women, and children, I also glanced at stores selling beauty products, housewares, gifts, toys, electronics, etc. Between the stores and entertainment, there is something for almost everyone.  

   

My Publication Links

My website hasn't been working too well recently, 

  so here I'll reinstate those features
  that it had after it ran for twenty years.

HOME  from my old web site

PUBLICATIONS from my old website at tripod

  SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS
   - The Preface         1999 (in 5 parts) 
   - Overseas              2001 (in 5 parts)
   - Closer To Home   2008

  DOTTY'S DIMENSIONS PUBLICATIONS (2000-2006)
       2000    Volume 1:  Issue 1- Issue 2- Issue 3- Issue 4
       2001    Volume 2:  Issue 1- Issue 2- Issue 3- Issue 4
       2002    Volume 3:  Issue 1- Issue 2- Issue 3- Issue 4
       2003    Volume 4:  Issue 1- Issue 2- Issue 3- Issue 4
       2004    Volume 5:  Issue 1- Issue 2- Issue 3- Issue 4
       2005,6 Volume 6:  Issue 1- Issue 2- Issue 3- Issue 4

   DOTTY'S DIMENSIONS CONTINUES
   -2006 Issue 1, Issue 2    -2007 Issue 3, Issue 4
   -2008 Issue 5, Issue 6    -2009 Issue 7, Issue 8 
   -2010 Issue 9, Issue 10  -2011 Issue 11, Issue 12

   MY CAPITAL TIME - 2006,  2007,  2008, 

   MOSTLY MATINEE TIME - 2009,  2010, 2010/2011

   THE STATE I'M IN  -2006 Issue 1  -2007 Issue 2  -2008 Issue 3
                                   -2009 Issue 4  -2010 Issue 5  -2011 Issue 6

   THE COLUMN SERIES
   -2012  Issue #01, Issue #02
   -2013  Issue #03, Issue #04
   -2014  Issue #05, Issue #06
   -2015  Issue #07, Issue #08
   -2016  Issue #09, Issue #10
   -2017  Issue #11, Issue #12
   -2018  Issue #13, Issue #14
   -2019  Issue #15, Issue #16

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Trouble with Tripod

As long as Tripod is currently unavailable to me for my website access, you can access my blog, but if you do want to read any of my earlier publications on my regular website, just send me a private message via Facebook, and give me your email address in that message and what issue you want.

Meanwhile, I’ll list what I have available:

1) The Preface—an abridged version of my misbegotten life. 

2) Overseas—my favorite places overseas as of the early 2000s.

3) Closer to Home—my favorite places in New Jersey; Philadelphia; New York City; and Washington, DC as of the early 2000s.

4) Between 2000 through 2005, I published Dotty’s Dimensions, a six volume, quarterly newsletter about the places I visited and the events I attended.

5) Dotty’s Dimensions Continues—a twice yearly newsletter about the places I’ve visited and events attended from 2006 to 2011.

6) My Capital Time—places I visited in Washington, DC in 2006, ‘07, and ‘08.

7) Mostly Matinee Time—I wrote about three films each year that I saw in NYC and a live show from Philly in 2009, 2010, and 2011.

8 ) The State I’m--12 places I visited each year in NJ from 2006 to 2012.

9) the Column Series—places I visited from 2012 through 2019.

10) As of 2020, I strictly wrote for my Dotty’s Dimensions Blog. 

My Publication Photos

  

   MY CAPITAL TIME - 2006, 2007, 2008

    MOSTLY MATINEE TIME -2009,  2010, 2010/11

   THE STATE I'M IN  -2006 Issue #1, 2007 Issue #2, 2008 Issue #3,
                                           2009 Issue #4, 2010 Issue #5, 2011 Issue #6

   THE COLUMN SERIES
   -2012  Issue #01, Issue #02
   -2013  Issue #03, Issue #04
   -2014  Issue #05, Issue #06
   -2015  Issue #07, Issue #08
   -2016  Issue #09, Issue #10
   -2017  Issue #11, Issue #12
   -2018  Issue #13, Issue #14
   -2019  Issue #15, Issue #16

   PHOTO ALBUMS
   1. Original photo album
   2. Personal photo gallery

Mr. McGregor's Garden Farm and Deli

 

   Saturday, May 24, 2025: After visiting Johnson's Locus Hall Farm Market earlier that day, I traveled a few miles up Monmouth Road to Mr. McGregor’s Garden Farm Market and Deli, 2816 Monmouth Road, Jobstown (Burlington County), New Jersey (609-723-1200). This market was really low key compared to Johnson's Locust Farm Market, but once inside, they did sell some produce, plenty of baked goods—especially pies, some jarred foods, and packaged foods. Currently, it looked like this place was being renovated, both the farm market and the deli, but I noticed more varieties of food products for sale. To top it off, I found the prices on average to be cheaper than the place I had visited earlier that day. Outside, they offered plenty of flowers for sale. I would recommend taking a look at this market—and don’t be surprised, you may end up buying something here!

   

Johnson's Locust Hall Farm

 

   Saturday, May 24, 2025: A few days ago, I had visited Johnson's Corner Farm. On the date above, I visited another farm that the Johnson family owned: Johnson's Locust Hall Farm,  2691 Monmouth Road, Jobstown (Burlington County), New Jersey (609-353-9000). Compared to the Johnson's Corner Farm, we had to drive down a dirt and gravel road to get to the farm market, and once inside, I noticed that aside from strawberries in season, this store sold no produce! Nevertheless, this store sold jarred products-most of which the staff made from fruits and vegetables grown on this farm, baked goods, and non-edible merchandise: decor for the kitchen, tableware, and dishware. If you wanted produce, however, you had to pick it, or your family joined you in picking it. This place offered hayrides to the fields to pick what was in season. Like the Corner Farm, there were petting areas containing farm animals, but unlike the Medford farm, the farm market didn’t sell ready made foods in salads, sandwiches, dinner entrees, and so forth that you could buy inside and eat outside. They only had a food truck outside selling the usual sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers, etc. that you could eat at the outside tables. Meanwhile, the farm market shared space with a winery that sold wines along with a tasting room for adults. Throughout the year, Johnson's Locust Hall Farm played host to different events, but even though this farm was more low-key compared to the Medford farm, I still found it worthwhile for families to browse, maybe buy, and take a hayride to pick the latest crop. The farm has been around since 1693, but different families owned it in these last few centuries until 2014 when the Johnson family acquired it. 

Medford Mill Shoppes

     Tuesday, May 20, 2025: From farmland to an eclectic-artisan co-op shopping area in a former mill, I saw different kinds of merchandise in what I humorlessly called “artsy-fartsy.” At The Shoppes at Medford Mill, 18 Charles Street, Medford (Burlington County), New Jersey (973-939-1940), over 80 vendors sold things on commission, and each vendor had his or her own cove displaying what was for sale. Some of the merchandise these vendors sold included jewelry, clothing, and household items, as well as collectibles, gourmet snacks, and so on. If you needed gift ideas, this would be the place to look—and maybe buy! (At least this place looked colorful.) Meanwhile, the downtown area of Medford along Main Street also offered its share of shops and eating places. In addition, throughout the year, both the Medford Mill Shoppes and downtown Medford held special sales and events: Some of it was seasonable. Between browsing, and sometimes buying, in both the mill shoppes and along Main Street, Medford, NJ, could make for a full day. 

Johnson's Corner Farm

     Tuesday, May 20, 2025: When I read that Johnson’s Corner Farm, 133 Church Road, Medford, New Jersey (609-654-8643), has been listed as a major attraction in Burlington County, I decided to visit and see for myself. Anyway, I’ve liked visiting farm markets, regardless of whether they were a major attraction or not. At this farm, I could see why: There was something of interest for the whole family! Among the offerings were hayrides to the fields that the family could take to pick the latest crop in season together for the price of a ticket. (If nothing else, children could learn that food doesn’t start at the supermarket.) Another ticket included a chance to feed and pet farm animals; plus, children could be active in the Discovery Barnyard playground where they could pretend to be farmers. For adults without children along, there has been a sizable farm market that sold both edible and non-edible merchandise: produce, jarred foods-both sweet & savory, and baked goods, as well as sandwiches, salads, entrees for dinner, ice cream, candy, etc. In addition, the non-edible items included tableware, decorative stuff for the kitchen, flowers, and so forth. If the weather was good, visitors could eat what food they purchased inside at the picnic tables outside. Throughout the year, Johnson Corner Farm played host to different seasonable events. 

Grist Mill Antique Center

      Wednesday, May 7, 2025: Back in April, I visited Haddon Heights Antique Center. On the date above, after seeing Second Time Books earlier, I went to Pemberton (Burlington County), New Jersey, and I stopped into the Grist Mill Antiques Center, Route 616, 127 Hanover Street (609-726-1588). Similar to the Haddon Heights store, this was a dealers’ co-op but larger: 125 dealers compared to 80 in Haddon Heights. Nevertheless, although this store was bigger, I didn’t find it as varied in merchandise as the other store. I did not blame the vendors; however, it seemed that most of the merchandise was glassware. Now I didn’t mind because I enjoyed looking at glassware—and they even had uranium glass! The problem was that some of the aisles were too tight. I feared going through some of them. So I did not. Anyway, I would suggest that if you saw something you liked and might want to buy, but you had second thoughts about navigating in that area, then ask the staff for help. While glassware seemed to dominate the merchandise, this store did sell other stuff in between the glass: toys, jewelry, and accessories, as well as artwork, furniture, and other items including pottery, books, etc. While browsing, words such as “They don’t make that anymore,” crossed my mind often. I also learned that this store had played host to outdoor flea markets at different times of the year. Overall, this place offered plenty of eye candy, but just watch where you are going. 

Second Time Books

 

     Wednesday, May 7, 2025: Because the weather on the date above was nice, I went antiquing. The first place I visited was the area called Rancocas Woods Shopping District in Mount Laurel (Burlington County), New Jersey. Therefore, along Creek Road, roughly between Fleetwood Avenue and Rancocas Boulevard, I noticed more than a dozen different businesses: retail stores, eating places, service businesses, etc. housed in mostly log cabin-styled and other quaint-looking buildings. The bookworm in me stepped into Second Time Books, 114 Creek Road (856-234-9335). Here, I looked at room-upon-room and aisle-upon-aisle of (You guessed it!) books. They sold almost everything from old magazines to leather-bound antique books—and anything in between of different genres and subjects. If you couldn't find anything here, you weren't looking very well. They said that they had over 69,000 titles in stock, and I believed it. Meanwhile, other businesses along Creek Road included retail antique stores, art galleries, furniture, jewelry, clothing, home decor, crafts, and so on. I also glanced at close to six eating places, and in addition, Rancocas Woods played host to events throughout the year: farmers’ markets, car shows, block parties, and so forth. Even if nothing special was going on, it was still interesting to see this shopping district.

Moorestown Mall

     Thursday, May 1, 2025: In 1963, a few years after Cherry Hill Mall opened about three miles away, a new mall opened: Moorestown Mall, 400 New Jersey Route 38, Moorestown (Burlington County), NJ (856-231-4444). This mall always reminded me of a smaller version of Cherry Hill Mall, but in these last few decades, Moorestown Mall has had more ups and downs. Currently, it has been going up, but it needed more tenants to get back to its former glory between 1963 and into the 1990s. In late 1992, the mall had a fire and had to be renovated, but even then, it did get plenty of tenants. Then in the early decades of the 21st century, this mall started to decline, just like many other malls in the USA. Of course, in 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic didn’t help either. Nevertheless, this mall, on the date above, contained about 90 Stores, including a food court, a cinema, and a medical center. Inside, it looked like a typical mall with title floors, fountains, a bit of greenery here and there, and the usual mall stores that have been similar to other malls. If you are in the area, it is worthwhile to take a look. As for me, I’m glad to see one of the few shopping malls making a comeback!     

Audubon Day

     Sunday, April 27, 2025: On a technicality, my story began in Audubon (Camden County), New Jersey. In 1956, I arrived at the old Audubon Hospital, but I grew up in Clementon, NJ. Other than an occasional shopping trip to the old Black Horse Pike Shopping Center (nowadays it is called Audubon Crossings), I spent most of my childhood in or near Clementon. Anyway, April 26th was the birthday of John James Audubon(1785-1851), the author of Birds of America, and several towns picked that day to honor him, including Audubon. For 2025, the town had their first annual Audubon Day at the Francis J. Ward Recreation Center & Audubon Family Park, 602 Hampshire Avenue, (856-547-0711). Nevertheless, because of the threat of rain, those in power changed the event for the next day. Therefore, on the date above, I bought a sandwich from one of the close to a dozen food trucks, and I ate it inside the recreation center. Later, I looked at tables, inside and outside, promoting different groups and causes: 18 altogether, including a historical society, different departments for the borough, and other community organizations. In addition, I noticed about two dozen vendors selling their merchandise. Meanwhile, I also saw other events that included children’s games and live music—but I didn’t see anything promoting John James Audubon. However, this has been their first time running this celebration. So maybe things will be a bit different next year! 

Gabreil Daveis Tavern

     Saturday, April 26, 2025: The Gabreil Daveis Tavern, 500 Third Avenue, Glendora (Gloucester Township), Camden County, New Jersey (856-228-4000) dated back to 1756, and despite the name, the restored rooms looked more like a circa 1756 house than a tavern. On the day I was there, I toured the following rooms: a kitchen, a dining room, a parlor, and a reception area containing literature about this place as well as other nearby historic places. Meanwhile, on the date above, the Gloucester Township Historic & Scenic Preservation Committee played host to a colonial re-enactment. Besides touring the tavern, I noticed people dressed in 1700s-style clothing taking part in 18th century crafts and trades: blacksmith, archer, flintlock rifle shooting, tomahawk throwing, cannon shooting, basketry, beading, etc. For a charge, visitors could take part in some of these activities. This was the first time I’ve seen the public invited to try some of these crafts and trades! Although, I just looked around, I found what I saw worth my time.

   

Haddon Heights Antique Center

     Tuesday, April 15, 2025: For this date, I went to a totally different business for retail: an antiques & collectibles store—but what a store it was! The Haddon Heights Antique Center, 531 Clements Bridge Road (at the corner of East Atlantic Avenue), Barrington (Camden County), New Jersey (856-546-0555), was an antique and collectibles mega store. On three floors, I browsed at almost every kind of merchandise: tableware, artworks, and books, as well as furniture, clothing, toys, glassware, jewelry, seasonable items, etc. This “store” contained a co-op that included items from about 80 dealers displaying their wares. If you couldn’t find something to interest you here, then you weren't looking very hard. There were so many isles that you could get lost, and the staff suggested raising your voice a bit to get help to find your way out. In addition, Haddon Heights Antique Center often had sales almost everyday. I’ve seen large antique stores in Northern NJ, but this is the first time I have seen one closer to where I live. Thus, I have said this before about other large antique stores, and I’ll say it again: I felt like I was in a decorative arts museum—except that this art was for sale. If you are in Southern NJ, don’t miss it. 

Stella Farms

     Monday, April 14, 2025: While Stella Farms, 459 New Freedom Road, Berlin (Camden County), New Jersey (856-767-3144) didn’t quite have the “flash & glamour” compared to Springdale Farms in Cherry Hill, NJ, it has been around longer—since 1921. As a child, my parents used to buy corn-on-the-cob, NJ strawberries, and other produce during the 1960s and ‘70s. (When in season, I still like to buy their corn and strawberries.) Of course, on the date above, not too much NJ produce had been in season, yet, but this place sold produce from elsewhere as well as baked goods, jarred foods—especially honey, and plenty of flowers! As the temperatures would get warmer in the year, Stella Farms would have much more local produce for sale, and this would prove why NJ has been called “the Garden State.” Throughout the Spring, Summer, and Autumn, this farm has played host to different family events, and they also sell seasonable decorations for your home and yard. 

Springdale Farm Market

     Friday, March 28, 2025: Many years ago, Cherry Hill Township, Camden County, New Jersey, had been called Delaware Township. Then on November 7, 1961, the residents voted to change the name. Before then, in the early 20th century, and as late as 1931, Delaware Township had as many as 82 farms. Nowadays, only Springdale Farm remained. I stopped by recently and did plenty of browsing, and I also did some shopping. Of course this farm market: Springdale Farm Market, 1638 Springdale Road (856-424-8674), has been in business for over 75 years. In addition, it was not some simple produce stand! Instead, this market provided rows and rows of fruits & vegetables, a bakery selling many kinds of baked goods, as well as other foods: jarred food, both sweet and savory, other packaged foods, etc. Both inside the building and outside, I noticed potted flowers, hanging baskets of flowers, and other plants such as herbs & spices. This store also sold garden equipment, outdoor furniture, and kitchenware—almost any thing to do with your kitchen and garden. From late Spring through December, this place played host to different events for the family, and private events that included hayrides. Therefore, if you would like to see what Cherry Hill looked like before it became a built up edge city/sprawling suburb, stop by this farm market, and shop locally. You won’t be sorry, and you might be buying stuff for yourself and your kitchen or garden. 

Clementon Historical Commission

     Wednesday, March 19, 2025: I grew up in Clementon,(Camden County) New Jersey. If you read the entry in this blog called “Early Childhood Places,” I mentioned living in Clementon from 1956 to ‘74. As a child and later, a teen, I remembered the building that I visited on the date above as the former borough hall, library, and police station. Currently it has been the headquarters of the Clementon Historical Commission and included a small museum: Clementon Historical Commission, 195 Gibbsboro Road (856-783-0284). I meant to visit this museum someday, and when I learned that the Commission had been planning to have an open house to celebrate Clementon’s 100th anniversary (1925-2025), I felt this would be as good a time as ever to see the museum. Once inside, I looked at pictures, texts, and exhibit items that presented Clementon’s past: from American Indian arrowheads to items on display from the past 100 years. Of course, I became nostalgic looking at anything to do with the 1960s and early ‘70s! Overall, it is a small museum, but I found it worthwhile to see and reminisce.   

Camden County Historical Society

     Wednesday, March 12, 2025: In the past, I’ve been to different county historical society museums, except for the one in my own county. (Shame on me!) Nevertheless, on the date above, I couldn’t say that anymore because I visited the Camden County, New Jersey, Historical Society Museum, 1900 Park Boulevard, Camden, NJ (856-964-3333). Once inside, a very friendly and enthusiastic tour guide took us around the different sections on two floors of this museum and the adjoining Pomona Hall. Right away, I noticed the historical and genealogical research library. Then our guide took us to an area about African-American history, and it especially covered the subject about the enslaved people who lived in Pomona Hall in the 1700s. This led to a tour of Pomona Hall, a house that the Cooper Family first build in 1726. Years later in the 1780s, the Cooper Family extended and expanded the house. Our guide showed us five rooms and a hallway that the staff furnished to the way it might have looked in the 1780s. Later, back in the museum building, our guide let us observe the exhibit areas on the one floor: 1) a Camden (city) History Mural; 2) Lenape, “We’re Still Here; and 3) the American Revolution. On another floor, we saw Made in Camden. This section displayed tools for trades and domestic work from the 1700s, and it also showcased the industries that were once in Camden, including the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) and Campbell’s Soup. Another area presented the Camden Music Hall of Fame. Overall, via pictures, exhibit items, and texts, I learned much about Camden’s past. The only problem I had was that most of the museum covered Camden city and very little about the rest of Camden County. Anyway, I still recommend seeing this museum and getting to know more about the history of this county seat.

Dutch Wagon Amish Farmers Market

     Friday, January 24, 2025: I have been to different Amish markets in New Jersey and Pennsylvania in these last few years, but on the date above, I visited an Amish market in Burlington County, NJ that I have never been to before: Dutch Wagon Amish Farmers Market, 109 Route 70, Medford (609-654-1414). As we pulled in to park, I notice several storage sheds (At last. A house I can afford. HA! HA!), outdoor wooden furniture, playground structures, and small outdoor structures for containing small farm animals. Nevertheless, because it was cold outside, I only glanced around before moving inside the main building. Here, I browsed, and sometimes bought, different kinds of foods, much of it sold by the Amish: fresh meats, lunch meats, and baked goods, as well as salads, jarred foods, fried & barbecued poultry, candies, etc. Toward the back of the building, I saw a cafe with a limited menu. While this market looked smaller compared to the Amish markets I’ve seen elsewhere, the aisles were tight because Dutch Wagon was packed with many kinds of edible merchandise. In fact, during better weather, this location would make a good stop for buying picnic foods on the way to the NJ Pine Lands or the NJ Shore.