Cruise Through Bloomfield Every Wednesday Night

This summer, the Bloomfield Center Alliance (BCA) celebrates its 10th classic car show anniversary.  Every Wednesday in June, July, and August, from 6-9pm, car collectors from all over New Jersey, and even surrounding states, cruise over to Broad Street in Bloomfield to show off their antique autos to local merchants, families, and car aficionados alike.

According to Doreen Sarcone, BCA’s Deputy Director, the annual summer car shows have helped to drive not just automobiles, but a great deal of foot traffic, to the town. 

“Our car shows are about interaction,” said Sarcone.  “For the most part, they’re touchy-feely.  We don’t even judge the cars.  Many of the owners love to talk about their cars to spectators; some will even let them sit inside.”

Tom Robinson, president of the Nostalgic Automobile Society of Montclair, showed off his ’61 Buick Electra 225 at this week’s show.  Robinson says that he has loved cars ever since he was a child, and travels all over the country to exhibit his wheels and congregate with other auto-addicts.

“Everyone likes to look at old cars,” Robinson said.  “Car enthusiasts will bring their cars here, and attract a variety of people to the show.”

The ’61 beauty is just one of the nine classic cars Robinson calls his own.

“I have a couple of garages,” he said.

So what’s it actually like to own a classic?

“I get a lot of stares,” said Anthony Marano, who had his ’64 Chevrolet Impala on proud display.  “People will always ask if I want to sell it, and I’ll say, ‘For the right price.’  I put a lot of work into it, but the work never ends.”

“I love driving it around all day,” said Sam Messina of his ’89 Chevrolet Camaro RS.  “I won’t even want to go home at night.”

Like Robinson, Andrew Hageman, the owner of a ’67 Chevrolet Camaro, attends the shows largely for their social aspect.

“The people are nice; you make friends, and see the same people at other shows,” he said.  “It’s enjoyable to me.  I’ve been retired for seven years, so I just get to loaf around and do this kind of stuff.”

Although Al Martin, owner of AJN Compware on Bloomfield Avenue, may not be retired, he still finds time to devote to his ’66 stunner: a Jaguar S-Type.

“I’m a workaholic, but I used to close early just so I could see the show,” Martin said.  “I liked it so much that I bought one of my own.”          

While the car shows have served as a great summer attraction for Bloomfield since their start ten years ago, Sarcone is hoping to see an even higher level of participation from local businesses this year and in years to come.

This week, Café International, a new eatery on Bloomfield Avenue, was cooking up gyros, sausages, and other European treats to serve to hungry car enthusiasts and onlookers.

“BCA is a special-improvement business, and we’re trying to teach our local merchants how to market themselves,” Sarcone said.  “We want the businesses to take advantage of the show.  We’re improving every year.”