801 Elm Street, Camden, NJ.
The story of the Litwin family is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and resilience. Isadore and Reba Litwin, originally from Russia, settled in Philadelphia before World War I. By 1930, they were residing at 2510 South 9th Street with their three children: Edward, Philip, and Sylvia. Isadore already owned his own grocery store at that time.
By 1941, the Litwin family had moved to North Camden, where Isadore opened a grocery at 547 North 8th Street. Philip began working for the family business, driving a truck. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Philip enlisted in the Army Air Force in January 1942.
After the war, both Litwin sons married and lived nearby in North Camden. Edward established a wholesale produce business, while Philip resided in the 700 Block of Cedar Street, close to the family store.
In 1959, the Litwins relocated their homes and the business to the opposite corner, 801 Elm Street. Isadore lived in Parkside on Belleview Avenue, Philip moved to 3000 Stevens Street in East Camden, and Edward settled in Pennsauken. Both brothers returned to their father’s business around this time.
Despite economic challenges in North Camden, the Litwin Brothers persevered. By the mid-1970s, they were one of only two significant grocery stores in the area, alongside the Chek-In Market at 548 State Street. When the Chek-In closed in the early 1980s, Litwin’s remained the sole survivor.
The Litwin Brothers also offered a check cashing service, filling a crucial need in North Camden where no bank branches existed. Unfortunately, this practice came to an abrupt halt after a robbery attempt on July 1, 1974, resulting in one fatality and seven injuries, including Philip Litwin and one of the robbers.
As of 2023, Litwin Market still operates at 8th and Elm Street, providing essential services to North Camden residents, including the check cashing business — a vital resource in a neighborhood without a commercial bank for over five decades.
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Litwin Brother’s Market
801 Elm Street, Camden, NJ. The story of the Litwin family is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and resilience. Isadore and Reba Litwin, originally from Russia, settled in Philadelphia before World War I. By 1930, they were residing at 2510 South 9th Street with their three children: Edward, Philip, and Sylvia. Isadore already owned…
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