The bright and cheery store on Cedar Lane in Teaneck turned 90 last Thursday, Feb. 11. That’s when Anita Mather’s grandfather, Albert Bischoff, opened a small ice cream shop in New York.
A few years later he moved to Ridgefield Park, and when the space on Cedar Lane opened in 1934 he welcomed the opportunity to have a larger store on a busy pedestrian street.
Anita runs the store now with her partner, Richard Zanetto, who started working there when he was in high school and became a formal part of the business 40 years ago. Anita’s son is now involved in the business, and she said she hopes it goes on for at least another 40 years.
Today, the store is cheerily decked out with candies, gifts, and most importantly chocolate-filled hearts for Valentine’s Day. And while the romantic holiday is popular, Anita says it’s not the store’s busiest holiday. That’s Easter, when they feature her hand-made Easter baskets.
Bischoff’s is open every day of the year, except Christmas Day. Weekday hours are 9:30 a.m. - 10 p.m., and 9 a.m.- 11:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday.
In additional to the justifiably famous ice cream, all made on the premises as it always has been, Bischoff’s has a traditional luncheon-style menu.
“It’s a happy business,” says Anita.
Bischoff’s is at 468 Cedar Lane, (201) 836-0333. No web page, no wifi, no credit cards, no reservations. Lots of ice cream.
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