05/27/2026
Then & Now, The A.B. Bogert Building, 51-95 Westwood Avenue
Built in 1908 by former Westwood mayor and businessman Abraham Blauvelt Bogert, the A.B. Bogert Building remains an important capsule of downtown history. Look closely above #65 to spot its original raised lettering and the “A.D. 1908” inscription.
A.B. Bogert was a partner in several local businesses, including the Westwood Concrete Block Company. No doubt some of his concrete blocks were used in the construction of this building! Designed in the Colonial Revival style, the building features five storefronts and second-floor spaces.
Business history highlights include:
#55
From an early drug store known as Palmer Drug Store to Graef’s Drug Store in the 1930s–40s, this storefront evolved to include children’s boutiques in the 1950s–70s (Kraemer’s Youth Togs, A Special Place Youth Fashions, and Table Boutique) and The Nut Shop, known for its homemade Van Dyk’s ice cream from 1978 through the 90s. Today, it is home to Linwood Optical, serving the community for nearly 25 years.
#65
In 1936, Charles H. Bruns Grocery store moved into this location. In 1960, Willner Inc. operated here. In a 1968 advertisement, Wilner compared shopping local to the malls saying, “walking a quarter of a mile from where you park your car to where you want to buy your clothes may alright for a ‘customer,’ but we don’t think it’s any way to treat a woman. Our free parking lot is right behind our store. We treat you like a woman.”
R.T.W. Ready To Wear followed in 1985, and eventually Pocket Watches and Belle Fashions. In 1996, the Gem Mine opened and still brings minerals, fossils, and jewelry-making supplies to Westwood.
#69
This address housed everything from Emanuel & Gordon’s Department Store to Tred-Well Shoes to an RCA Victor radio store during the fireside chat era. By the 1950s it became a destination for footwear and clothing (Kate’s Brothers), and since 2002, Girard Interiors has served the community with decorating and design solutions.
#79
Beginning as a variety store and later home to Modern Dairy from 1923-53, this location evolved into Foremost Deli (1959), Whalen Drugs (1971), Westwood Travel (1980) and the second home of Shaws Book Shop (2005) before becoming today’s Cutz & Stylez Barbershop after 2019.
#85
An unassuming doorway leads up to the second-floor space. In 1934, the Westwood office of the Board of Compliance of the National Recovery Administration operated here, which was an agency established by FDR to eliminate “cutthroat competition” by bringing industry, labor, and government together to create codes of “fair practices” and set prices.
#89
This storefront’s first tenant was the Westwood Post Office. In 1922, a postal clerk
named Mary Vealey was arrested by Postal Inspectors, who caught her taking marked bills from registered letters, proving the admonition “do not send cash through the mail.”
After the Post Office relocated in 1933, the Union Packing Company grocery store opened here followed by Lou’s Quality Meat Market. In 1956, Lou’s sold rib roast for 49 cents a pound, chicken 39 cents a pound, and iceberg lettuce 12 cents a head. Carroll’s upholstery, furniture, and decorating, operated here from 1960 to 1977. In 1977, Frame It Yourself opened here, which was renamed to Avenue Custom Framing sometime after 2020.
#95
This commercial looking doorway (labeled “95”) leads up to the second-floor space. In
1938, Mrs. Thomas E. Brickell, a member of one of the “founding families” in Westwood, lived
here.
History and current photos courtesy of HPC business district history project and photographic archival project, 2022. Historic photos courtesy of Westwood Heritage Society
