The 1950’s saw the decline in our Town of Newburgh in agriculture pursuits as the main source of income. People gravitated to industrial ventures springing up for their livelihoods, and our culture changed. People began to take notice of how much time was spent outside the home. To meet the demands of our community, various businesses sprouted up, and with that the strip mall concept, where a number of businesses were located next to one another along a main route where people could stop and quickly pick up what they needed.
One of the first in our Town was a small, three store conglomeration on South Plank Road, or State Route 52, just east of the intersection with Route 300. It was next to the bowling alley and across from Jerry Cacossa’s store. It may surprise some of you, that as Meat Loaf, sang, Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad, two of these business survive till the present day, in different locations. The original building was torn down and a diner put up years ago. For a time, it was the Town and Country Diner, then Mesa Mexican Grille, and finally Table 52.
One of the first three, Joe’s Pizza was originally located at the west end of the structure and opened their doors in 1965. Two brothers, Jack and Joe Matikiewicz, from Pennsylvania, came to Newburgh after college to begin their professional careers as school teachers in the Valley Central District. They hungered for more (pun intended), and rented the location for the expensive sum of $40.00, a month. Thus the saga began of Joe’s Pizza.
After their day jobs, they would change from their dress shirts and ties, transforming into some of the best darn pizza makers the Town has ever seen! The solid work ethic of this family provided the foundation for what we enjoy and have today.
In 1982, the dream expanded and an old service station on the northwest corner of the intersection of State Route 300 and State Route 52 was purchased from Ralph Holt. Family, friends, and other locals jumped in to assist in converting it over to what it is today. Kudos to a family run business, still operated by the same family with quality food and a great menu. If you happen to be in the area, be sure to stop by for some great grub! And, maybe reflect on what hard work and a sense of community will accomplish.

The center store was a barbershop. The photo displays a different name than most of you will remember as “Big” Ed Langston’s Barbershop. Ed began his career cutting hair in a shop on William Street in the city of Newburgh. From 1952 to 1972, he plied his trade before relocating to the Town. He cut hair as well at West Point and at Stewart Field Air Force Base. He love baseball and was involved with this passion all his life.
When the location on South Plank Road was torn down, he relocated to a shop in Plattekill. His son, David, has followed in his father’s footsteps and continues till today, clipping the hair of Town residents, though the shop is now located on North Plank Road, or State Route 32, just east of the Holt’s Corners intersection.
If you need to tidy up your hair a bit after all this home quarantine, this is another business which has served our community for over half a century. And, inside, there are some great baseball related photos. Thanks for taking the time the other day to chat, David! Here’s to seeing the shop prosper for decades to come.
Now, the third store in this long gone strip mall. It was on the east end. It was called the Skillet and was an early incarnation of a Stewart’s Root Beer shop. Frank and Ann Buyl successfully operated it for a while, selling hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries, and other types of what we now consider fast food along with Stewart’s Root Beer.
People could swing in and get a quick bite to eat, grab a coffee, or simply stop and sit and chat about current events and gossip about what was going on in the Town. Great people and great times.
After the Buyl’s, another gentleman took it over, Frank DeMarino, who most of us remember as “Ducky”. Ducky was a true entrepreneur. He would find a need and fill it. When he took over the skillet, he knew there were no eateries in the area which catered to people who arose early, or were coming home from local watering holes when they closed.
He opened about 4 AM, serving basic, simple foods, developing a following with his outstanding sense of humor and comradery. He would close mid to late morning until the following day. The stories are plentiful of the shenanigans which took place in that small business.
There is one such tale where a regular customer came in and demanded a Swiss Cheese omelet. Ducky told him he didn’t have any Swiss Cheese. The patron persisted, and Ducky continue to tell him it wasn’t possible. Finally, exasperated, Ducky pulled out a pair of rusty scissors, grabbed a slice of American Cheese and cut some holes it, telling the guy, here’s your damn Swiss Cheese!
There are many other humorous stories of this unique man, but somehow I don’t believe I can include them in this article. Besides his love for humor, Ducky also owned and operated his own trucking business. Chatting with so many people who knew him brought smiles to everyone’s faces.
Sensing times were changing. Ducky capitalized on his idea of showing movies to his customers in the wee hours of the morning, entertaining and providing something no one else did. Depending upon his clientele, he would choose movies which interested his patrons. Children especially loved the cartoons.
Taking this concept, with his wife, Debbie, they opened Debbie Duck’s Video 52 Store later on. Clearly a man with vision and a grasp on the future, he made it happen. Sadly, Frank left us back in 2013. Thanks for the memories, buddy.
So, this is the tale of a tiny strip mall from which birthed two businesses, with outstanding people, still providing us with quality services today. Looking at the vintage photo of this location, if you stare long enough, you just might be able to see Clark Kent pulling his glasses off and stepping into the phone booth.