The Urban Explorer 732: People's Park Section (21st Ave.)

Paterson, NJ

The intersection of 21st Avenue and Montecaglioso Street.

This neighborhood was once (Paterson was very Dutch), it became Italian, in the early 20th Century.

Once a heavily Italian neighborhood, it is now has a diverse population with eateries catering to many different cuisines, including Dominican, Peruvian, and Costa Rican.

Today, this has the highest concentration of Hispanics in the city.

21st Avenue is one of the busiest commercial streets of Paterson. The People's Park section is one of the safest parts of Paterson. It feels just as safe as many of the surrounding suburbs, like Clifton. The population has shifted from a very Italian to now the city's most heavily concentrated Latino neighborhood.

Italian presence on the Avenue.

St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church.

Although most Italians are long gone, Italian mass is still done here (well actually it is a bilingual mass that is done in Italian and English) at 11:30 AM.

To reflect the changes in the ethnic makeup of the population, St Anthony's also celebrates Portuguese (8 AM Sundays) and Spanish mass as well. There is Spanish daily mass every evening at 7 PM here, from Monday to Friday.

Caffe Italia

Although now closed, Caffe Italia was once a gem (seems racist?) in the neighborhood. In front of Caffe Italia, I would see old Italian men, some even wearing medallions still speaking to each other in Italian on warm summer days. Inside the coffee house you might see men talking to each other or perhaps even playing cards who are from the neighborhood but probably no longer live here.

Back when I first began visiting Paterson during my spare time in high school, I would get Italian chocolates or gelato here. The cappuccinos and espressos were very good here and so were their gelatos.

It's such a shame they closed. I guess I am going to have to go to San Remo's in Totowa for Italian coffee.

Gianella's

This is an Italian bakery that has been in Paterson since the 1920s. The retail store is in nearby Glen Rock, however this location in Paterson does have a wholesale section.

Gianella's is well known throughout New Jersey. I see their trucks go as far as Central Jersey.

Michele's Gift Shoppe - an old Italian gift shop.

Muscia Family Meat Market is no longer here. I believe it left during the 2000's.

This street is named after a town where many Italian immigrants that lived in Paterson came from, Montescaglioso.

Because of the strong connection that Paterson has with Montescaglioso, they are now both "sister cities."

21st Avenue as the Latino neighborhood

Even though Paterson is a majority Latino city, it is important to note that 21st Avenue has the highest concentration of Latinos in La Cuidad de Seda (Silk City). Whenever Univision, a Spanish network, comes to Paterson to interview its residents on the upcoming mayoral election in Paterson or even to cover a snow storm, they often come to 21st Avenue.

Due to its long history of an ethnic neighborhood, The Library of Congress and The Herald have done research articles on this neighborhood?

Describe their articles?

Market and East 26th street Park with flags representing over 20 countries.

As 21st Avenue undeniably dances to a Latino beat, you can find many stores and businesses that cater to your shopping needs, whether it is platanos, Peruvian cebiche, or Colombian jeans. Out of all the Latino neighborhoods in the city, it is the most diverse---you will find Dominicans, Colombians, Peruvians, Costa Ricans, and Mexicans here on the Avenue.

note to self crop the Banana King photo

The sign that says "Colombian Corridor" was erected not too long ago.

The first three blocks of 21st Avenue, east of Madison Avenue, is now known as Colombian Corridor, although if you ask me the Colombian presence is felt all throughout 21st Avenue. There are many shops, restaurants, and bakeries that make you feel like you are in Colombia. One such is a restaurant called Noches de Colombia, which I will describe later in more detail.

21st Avenue and Beckwith Street park is a corner park that features a Colombian flag now flutters from a flag pole next to an American one. It is what up in the early 2010s.

Noches de Colombia

This restaurant is one of a chain of Colombian restaurants in the Northeast and they serve great Colombian food. The staff was very courteous, helpful, and genuinely friendly. I also liked the indoor decor of the restaurant.

I tried the Mar Mar platter.

The meal was 15 dollars. It consisted of grilled flounder and shrimp with creamy white sauce.

King's Meat Market

Dominican pride in King's Supermarket, as owners of this supermarket are most likely of Dominican descent. King's Supermarket sells products from many Latin American countries including the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Peru.

C Town Supermarket - This is not on 21st Avenue. However, it is nearby and is another grocery stores that caters to the neighborhood's large and growing Latino population. It is right across the street from Market and East 26th Street Park.

I tried the Mar Mar with their delicious chocolate milk, also known as milo frio. The milk cost five dollars.

If you want something a bit less costly than Noches, you might want to try Banana King. Banana King is a Colombian fast food chain that is also in Elizabeth, North Bergen, and other cities.

There are two Banana Kings about five blocks away from each other on 21st Avenue.

Banana King has combo meals served with a burger and instead of fries they have batata sticks. Plus they are well known for their milkshakes.

Bars

Mexicans have their presence on 21st Avenue. El Mexicano Restaurant, right below. Panaderia Mexicana, a Mexican bakery, to the bottom. I personally never tried them but 21st Avenue is more diverse, which is why I included these photos.

Buca's seafood and more.

I don't know which Latino nationality claims this restaurant but 26 Yelp reviewers give it a total of 4.5 stars!

Colombian boutique. Colombians are well known throughout the world for their clothing.

El Tipico - a Costa Rican, Peruvian, and Colombian fusion restaurant on 21st Avenue.

They used to be on a corner and now have a bigger location.

This is a shot of Paul Fernandez's former site of his office. He has moved to the Eastside.

Mantilla and Castillo - only have them if they're interviewed by You!

Mantilla Services. This tax service and notary public business is owned by a Else Mantilla, a Dominican American, who was one of the first Latina entrepreneurs in the city. Mantilla had her obstacles starting out at first as she was not received when she opened up her first business on Broadway and had to shut it down.

Still, she did not let it discourage her and she opened up another one on 21st Avenue. She is well known for her service to the Latino community. For example, in the past she has assisted in giving scholarships to Latino youths in the city. In The Record, a daily newspaper that serves the Passaic and Bergen County region, she had mentioned, "nobody else is going to help our own, that is why we need to help ourselves out."

Hector Castillo, a Peruvian American doctor, has his office on 21st Avenue. Castillo ran for governor in 2005 as an Independent and has an M.D from Columbia University in internal medicine.

Announcements for Latino themed concerts.

In Paterson, in addition to stores and restaurants, Latino immigrants also have cultural events order to allow themselves to be more comfortable in a new setting.

In Spanish this roughly translates into "You could be the next queen of the Dominican Parade and Festival" held in Paterson every year. The Dominican Parade is held on Market Street every year and passes through Sandy Hill, the most heavily concentrated Dominican neighborhood in the city.