[Rail Paul]

There was always a delight in prowling around the back corners and dusty shelves of Bridge's store. When they opened the upstairs room in the original place, it was like a candy store for pot and pan junkies.

Why the move? "I think the turning point was last Thanksgiving," said Steven Bridge, president of the family owned company. "After a three-hour commute from our home in Florham Park, my wife, Kathy, turned to me and said 'why are we killing ourselves? Can we move out of New York?' She was right. When we both work, we only see our two small children for five minutes each day. That is no way to raise a family. We are putting our family first and moving our business for a better quality of life for our kids."

Company history: "My father, the late Fred Bridge, used to sell to restaurants and hotels starting in l946," Steve Bridge said. "Our store was located on Third Avenue at 45th Street and had 3,000 square feet of showroom."

"During World War II, Fred was a cook, baker and chef for the 45th Infantry in Italy. He started the company with his mustering out money. He made many contacts in Europe and pioneered the import of European cookware, which changed the industry."

East Hanover, NJ

Bridge Kitchenware

[splinky]

i must admit when they moved from 52nd street to the new place a few blocks down, i never made the effort to find the new store. i used to love stopping in the old store at lunch times or on my home. there was always a sense of adventure in seeing what Fred's mood was on a given day. if the family can make it work better, moving the store closer to home, i wish them all the best. i wish i had made the effort to shop at the new store. i'll miss having them here

[Lippy]

I thought that the store was overrated and couldn't stand Fred Bridge.

[Cathy]

It's less colorful, but JB Prince has all the same stuff at lower prices.

I couldn't stand Fred either - what a bully.

[splinky]

Fred was always very nice to me but i saw him really go after some folks and it wasn't pretty.

[rancho_gordo]

I have his book (Complete Kitchen? Something like that) and it always amazes me. It's a great thing.
But the bigger issue is that our cities are losing their independent interesting stores, aren't they? Bookstore, junk stores, record stores...no one can afford the rent, insurance and risk except a big corporation.

[Lippy]

But the bigger issue is that our cities are losing their independent interesting stores, aren't they?

This is, indeed, an important and troubling issue, but there is no avoiding Fred Bridges' poisonality when the subject of that store comes up.

[Melonious Thunk]

I started to buy various pots and equipment from Bridge back when I worked in the neighborhood (909 3rd Ave.). I went in the first time and asked Fred a question. He started to ridicule me for the ignorance I showed. I said to him "If you are such a fucking expert, why don't you teach me something instead of trying to insult me?" His demeanor changed and he became very helpful from then on. I remember when I started to make Tart Tatin. I went in and asked "is there a special pan for Tart Tatin?" He took me over to the copper pan section and puiled three different size tin lined copper pans out from a dusty cabinet, recommended I buy the 9" to start and said if I made a good one, I should come back for the 11" pan. That was 26 years ago. I still have both pans and use them regularly, though I need to get the 9" re-tinned. Fred pointed me to beautiful Sitram 14" pan when I wanted a very large one for making large portions. He said I was big and strong enough to cook with it. The pan weighs about ten pounds and is the best I've had. Mine is 15 years old and as good as new. I heard stories that he was anti-semitic, a misanthrope and a nasty person. But I saw him as in interesting, angry old man. He never steered me wrong when I asked for a recommendation, and he never said "have a nice day" after I paid the bill.

[Rail Paul]

When I saw the address of the new location, I figured that Bridge Kitchenware had purchased M&J Frank, an old time restaurant and catering supply store in East Hanover. It's near my route home, and I stop there occasionally.

Not true. They are in a large space about two doors (maybe 200 feet) down Eagle Rock Avenue from Frank. If most of Bridge's business is internet and mail based now, that shouldn't be a problem for either place.

[Melonious Thunk]

Not true. They are in a large space about two doors (maybe 200 feet) down Eagle Rock Avenue from Frank. If most of Bridge's business is internet and mail based now, that shouldn't be a problem for either place.

And dead Fred won't be bothering people anymore.

[Rail Paul]

Not true. They are in a large space about two doors (maybe 200 feet) down Eagle Rock Avenue from Frank. If most of Bridge's business is internet and mail based now, that shouldn't be a problem for either place.

And dead Fred won't be bothering people anymore.

So, I stopped by the other day.

They've unpacked maybe 35% of their inventory, from what I can see. The decorative cake forms are out, the pie stuff is out, the spoons, knives, some ceramic stuff. Everything is dusty. I think they shipped genuine NY dust. Mrs Bridge is rummaging about with an assistant, looking for a specific product.

I selected a number of spoons, tongs, a mixing bowl, several odds and ends. Mrs Bridge says "I can't help you right now, go up front and my husband can ring you up." OK.

So, I go up front, and Mr Bridge is sitting at a desk. Looks at me, and smiles. Says nothing.

I say " Could you help me with these?"

He says "Kantcha see that I'm on the phone?" as I notice he has a bluetooth ear piece. "Go in the back, my wife will help you."

I leave.

[Rail Paul]

Bridge Kitchenware has moved (again), this time to much larger space. It's in a warehouse building in Roseland NJ, down the street from their old location in East Hanover. About 500 feet of display / customer space in the front part, and perhaps 10,000 feet overall. Nice space.

This time, Steve and Kathy couldn't be nicer. I was looking for tongs, a long handled turner, and a high heat spatula. Showed me their choices, offered to get more choices from the back if these weren't what I wanted.

In conversation, Steve mentioned their retail drop-in business is near zero. Maybe a few people a week. The internet and mail order business is booming however. Huge amount of interest in their pastry and baking products, he said.

Bridge