Autumn Years Fall 2024

In October 1982, Engravalle (owner of Modern Industrial Waste Service, Inc., of Saddle Brook) pled guilty to con spiracy to monopolize the waste indus try. By 1984, he sought Montvale’s ap proval for a shopping center on the site of the old restaurant, with a proposed 16 stores. The borough rejected the propos al. Engravalle died in 2006, and condos now occupy the restaurant’s site. An FBI sting The Forum Diner on Route 4 in Para mus (at the exit for Forest Avenue north) was where one could go for breakfast, lunch, dinner, a late-night snack . . . and a half-million-dollar bribe or stolen TVs. The diner was constructed by the Newark-based Fodero Dining Car Company and opened in 1967. The con tractor was Arthur Schimmel, a mem ber of the Paramus Planning Board. He later retired from the position to “spend

sine,” and a complete meal in 1960 was just $3.50. Jer ry’s Villa was also a popu lar wedding venue, with the capacity for 700 guests in air-conditioned com fort. Their famous “bridal staircase and wishing well” provided a “perfect set ting for your entrance and photo needs.” In 1961, the abandoned first building across the street burned to the ground in 20 minutes in a spectacular fire. The owners had no use for the building, but they did serve coffee to the firemen as they fought the blaze.

as to how the fire could have started in an empty, unused building at 9:30 in the morning. How much the building was insured for was not reported.

Pasquale Della Bella died in 1978, and the restaurant was then operated by his widow. When she died in 1981, the family tried rebranding and keeping the restaurant open, but it was quickly sold. The buyer was Joseph Engravalle, a trash hauler who was under indictment for a violent conspiracy to monopolize the waste industry by stamping out com petition. Two months after Engravalle bought the restaurant, the closed-up building mysteriously burst into flames. The massive fire was fought by many de partments from the local area, and the fire consumed a significant portion of the Montvale Fire Department’s budget, as $3,791 in equipment was damaged fighting the fire. Police were perplexed

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FALL 2024 I AUTUMN YEARS