After purchasing a State liquor license and renovating the shop, they opened ‘Ed’s Tavern’ in September of that year. Uncle Ed tended to the bar and Aunt Tillie to the taverns kitchen. It wasn’t long before ‘Eds’ became a favorite meeting place, not only for the locals, but also for those traveling through the township. People came from everywhere to meet at ‘Ed’s’. Eventually the phrase "Where ne
w friends meet" was coined and adopted as the taverns’ logo. Saddle River Township was a small town in Bergen County. Originally it was comprised mostly of agricultural farmlands, dairy and poultry farms, a few greenhouses and a small number of private homes. ‘Ed’s’ went on to become a central meeting place for the friends to gather, on an evening or weekend. From about 1945 through 1960, ‘Ed’s’ sponsored Shuffleboard and Softball Teams. These teams were made up of veterans from World War II, who lived in the area. Today, ‘Ed’s’ sponsors Girls Basketball and Little League Teams, as well as a Tuesday night Dart team and a Thursday night Bowling team. By the 1950’s, the town was growing rapidly. Business, light industry and residential homes were taking over the farmlands. Population was on the rise and so were the friends at ‘Ed’s’. In 1955 the town name was officially changed to Saddle Brook. ‘Ed’s’ would continue to be a local meeting place. Uncle Ed was still tending bar and welcoming old and new friends alike. Through the years, Uncle Ed and Aunt Tillie would never miss a day at work. Even during the most severe weather conditions, they would walk from their home, which was several blocks away, just to open up the tavern, so their friends could continue to meet. Aunt Tillie retired in 1985, after 50 years of serving up some of the most delicious dishes. At the start of the new Millennium, and at the age of 90, Uncle Ed decided to semi-retire. Even after 65 faithful years of bartending, Uncle Ed continued to come around, just to check up on things. It’s hard to keep a good man down . . . the older gent with the white hair . . . sitting on the barstool over there . . . having his traditional ‘Jack Daniels’ . . . and, oh yes, smoking that big cigar. Uncle Ed passed in 2002 and Aunt Tillie in 2007, but their legacy will continue to live on. This web site shall continue to serve as a tribute to these two wonderful people. Yes, the Wilczynski family continues to own and operate the ‘oldest business’ in Saddle Brook. So when you are in the neighborhood, why not stop in. Maybe you too can become a friend . . . "Where new friends meet"
