These 10 closed North Jersey businesses will take you back, make you feel nostalgic

If you're a North Jersey native, chances are you have seen quite a few businesses come and go. From theme parks and music venues to big department stores, the area was home to beloved destinations that seemingly disappeared all too quickly.

It's nostalgic to think back on the places we used to visit so often, and to see what has popped up in their spots. In one Facebook group, Things That Aren't There Anymore Northern NJ Edition, members share their memories of former North Jersey staples. While they might not be there anymore, they'll always be in our hearts.

So, let's take a trip down memory lane. If you don't see your favorite North Jersey nostalgic place on the list, let me know at MMcGay@gannett.com − we might just have to put together another roundup.

Palisades Amusement Park, Cliffside Park & Fort Lee

On top of the New Jersey Palisades once sat the 38-acre Palisades Amusement Park. Originally opened in 1898 as The Park on the Palisades, it became an amusement park in 1908. The park spanned across Cliffside Park and Fort Lee and saw many owners during its more than 60-year operation before shutting down in 1971.

Over the years, the park was home to attractions like the world's largest outdoor saltwater pool, the Cyclone Roller Coaster, Jungleland, Rock-O-Plane and Wild Mouse, just to name a few. There were about 40 to 50 rides available each season, and many were rotated or replaced to keep the park interesting. The park was even the inspiration for the song "Palisades Park" by Freddy Cannon, which reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962.

The park was shut down due to tension created between the park and surrounding areas in regards to crowds, congestion and parking.

Now: Developers rezoned the property after the park was shut down, and the location is now home to high-rise luxury apartment complexes. But, a small patch of land with a memorial plaque dedicated to the "men and women who played at Palisades Amusement Park" remains.

Capitol Theatre, Passaic

The Capitol Theatre in Passaic was once a go-to entertainment venue in North Jersey. At the intersection of Monroe Street and Central Avenue, the 3,866-seat theater originally opened in 1921 as a vaudeville house. By the 1960s, the theatre was known as the Capitol Cinema and served as a movie theater before being purchased by a rock promoter in 1971.

After this, Capitol Theatre hosted some of history's biggest names in music, including The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Def Leppard, Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Beastie Boys. After the theatre's last concert − Duran Duran in 1989 − it was put up for sale due to a changing music industry and the 1981 opening of Brendan Byrne Arena at the Meadowlands Sports Complex.

The location also caught fire before its demolition in 1991.

Now: A shopping center known as Capitol Plaza, where businesses including Dollar General and Pizza Hut occupy the site.

Jungle Habitat, West Milford

Opened in the summer of 1972, Jungle Habitat was an African safari-themed park operated by Warner Bros. The park was located in West Milford, near Greenwood Lake and the New York state border.

At the park, visitors could drive their cars through fields of free-roaming wild animals — including lions, zebras, elephants, and monkeys — or walk through a variety of exhibits. During its operation, several animals escaped the park and there was even a case where a taxi cab was damaged by a lion.

The park's life was short-lived: Jungle Habitat closed in 1976 due to residents of West Milford voting down a resolution that would have allowed Warner Bros to expand. The park and its animals were allegedly abandoned, and there have been tales of residents seeing non-native animals roaming the area, including kangaroos and baboons.

Now: The remains of Jungle Habitat can still be found in the woods of West Milford.

Fairy Tale Forest, Oak Ridge

Fairy Tale Forest in Oak Ridge is a fairy tale-based theme park that first opened in 1957 after being built for several years by Paul Woehle, Sr., a German immigrant, and his family. Originally a small park where visitors were taken through the tales of the Brothers Grimm, it expanded to include more attractions and shows. In 1993, Mariah Carey even used the park as a location for her music video, "All I Want for Christmas Is You."

Fairy Tale Forest briefly closed in 2003 due to competition from larger parks and the slowing of the baby boom. The park soon reopened, but has remained closed since the pandemic.

Now: Fairy Tale Forest still stands in Oak Ridge today, but many still question whether the beloved fairy tale theme park will ever reopen.

Bertrand Island Amusement Park, Mount Arlington

Dubbed "Little Coney," Bertrand Island Amusement Park opened in 1910 on a small peninsula on Lake Hopatcong in Mount Arlington. Originally, developers had plans to bring a hotel and casino to southern Lake Hopatcong, but it was never developed. After becoming a popular swimming and picnic area, increasing crowds resulted in more attractions, including food stalls, a dancing pavilion and amusements. Once an actual island connected to the mainland by a bridge, Bertrand Island's 30 acresbam were permanently linked to the shore to support a Ferris wheel, log flume and a roller coaster.

The park eventually closed in 1983 due to competition from larger theme parks and Lake Hopatcong becoming an all-year community.

Now: Rows of townhouses fill Bertrand Island, where the amusement park once stood.

Bamberger's, Newark & other locations

Bamberger's department store once was the place to shop in North Jersey.

First built in 1912 on Market Street in downtown Newark, Bamberger's covered an entire city block, consisting of more than 200 departments over nine floors, two basement floors, a restaurant, as well as its own Newark Public Library and U.S. Post Office branches. In 1929, the store was purchased by R.H. Macy Co., but kept its name and in 1955, the building was reorganized to include a private Downtown Club and a formal restaurant known as the Garden State Tea Room.

As the company added more locations in New Jersey, the greater Philadelphia area and Baltimore, the stores adopted the Macy's name. However, the chain opened branch stores of L. Bamberger & Co. in downtown Morristown, Garden State Plaza in Paramus, Plainfield, Princeton and Livingston Mall, among other places. In 1986, all Bamberger's locations were renamed Macy's, including the flagship store in Newark, until it closed in 1992.

Now: The Bamberger's building still stands in Newark, but mostly consists of empty office spaces. A redevelopment plan has been discussed for the buildings across the street, but it's unknown what may come of the original Bamberger's building.

The Chatterbox Drive-In, Augusta

Opened in 2003, the Chatterbox Drive-In was a 1950s-themed restaurant, featuring a rotating series of vintage vehicles, old movie posters, 45 rpm records and a large hot dog figure.

The restaurant became part of the local community, known for its regular "Bike Nights" for motorcyclists and charitable sock hops. Even Fonzie himself, Henry Winkler, stopped by to visit the eatery.

The restaurant officially closed in 2018, as the 20-year-old building needed substantial investments. It was later demolished in 2021.

Now: The property was sold to Wawa, which is now open and operating on the site.

Packard's, Hackensack

The Packard's building in Hackensack began as a factory in the late 1800s for the William Campbell Wallpaper Co. After it was purchased in 1908 by Imperial Color Works, the building produced prints for 20 years.

In the 1920s, the vacant factory was purchased by Harry Harper, a city-born investor who spent 10 seasons as a major league pitcher for several teams before buying industrial properties amid the Great Depression. He opened a grocery store on the site, known as Harper's until it was bought out in 1933 by Frank Packard − who was managing a Pennsylvania department store − and Edgar Bamberger − then vice president of the Bamberger's department store chain.

After fighting for price-fixing laws, Packard expanded the grocery business into Packard's market, and the business grew to include different departments ranging from food, electronics, toys and apparel. It even had an in-store restaurant known as The Print Room − an ode to its history.

Over time, the business' success began to decline and it officially closed in 1991 after Packard's son, John Packard, was unable to find new management. The building operated as a flea market for about a decade, before it was demolished in 2001.

Now: A Target store opened in the location where Packard's once sat.

Action Park, Vernon

First opened to the public in 1978, Action Park was an amusement and waterpark located on the grounds of the Vernon Valley and Great Gorge ski resort. The park featured three separate attraction areas: the Alpine Center, Motorworld and Waterworld. With many unique and thrill-inducing attractions, the park had a reputation for poorly designed rides, as well as underaged and undertrained staff, resulting in a poor safety record.

In 1998, the land was purchased by resort developer Intrawest, who renovated, repaired and even removed unsafe attractions. They reopened the park under the name Mountain Creek Waterpark. The park temporarily brought back the name Action Park in 2014, but subsequently removed it in 2016.

Now: The updated park remains open, known as Mountain Creek Waterpark.

Fountains of Wayne, Wayne

Outsiders may only know Fountains of Wayne as the 1990s rock bank known for the song "Stacy's Mom," but longtime North Jersey residents know the band named itself after the lawn ornament store in Wayne.

Fountains of Wayne was a fountain and landscaping store filled with faux Roman statues and bird baths situated along Route 46. In the late fall and early winter, the store would transform into a Christmas emporium with ornaments, lighting, rows of angel figurines and even a giant Santa statue outside. The store was known for its sometimes crazy displays, including an underwater scene of snorkeling Santa, dolls on Harley motorcycles and a doll pet beauty parlor.

Featured on "The Sopranos" in 2001, Fountains of Wayne closed in 2009 from bankruptcy and the building was eventually demolished in 2019.

Now: A new building with room for several storefronts, including Electronics Expo and The Tile Shop, occupies the area

Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ten nostalgic North Jersey places to take you back in time