The Newsmagazine of Long Beach Island and Southern Ocean County

By Juliet Kaszas-Hoch | on September 16, 2022

ISLAND ARCHIVES: One of Mitch Baker’s many historical LBI mementos is a flyer for a circus, vaudeville show and dance in the opera house in Barnegat in 1911, to benefit the High Point Yacht Club. (Photos by Ryan Morrill)

Mitch Baker has always been a finder, a collector, a connoisseur of cool old stuff. His home on Ocean Boulevard in Brant Beach reflects his passion for tokens of the past – including a great deal of Long Beach Island memorabilia, and signs, large and small, from former and current LBI businesses.

As a kid in River Vale, N.J., site of the Revolutionary War’s Baylor Massacre of 1778, Baker was surrounded by history, both figuratively and literally. After it rained, the youngster would search through whatever timeworn bits and pieces washed down the nearby hills.

“I became a treasure hunter,” said Baker, whose mother owned an antique store in Westwood, N.J.

The family spent summers on the Island, where Baker now resides full time, and – following in his mom’s footsteps – where he opened the Antique Peddler, at 4000 Long Beach Blvd. in Brant Beach, last year. Antique Peddler is walking distance from Baker’s home, and features  “rare Americana and astounding authenticated signatures from presidents and sports and music celebrities that would be considered a big deal by collectors,” notes the shop website, lbiantiquepeddler.com.

BAGELS ANYONE?: The “Delicatessen” and “Bakery” signs from Bageleddi’s former location are in Baker’s backyard, although with the “Y” removed from “Bakery” to mimic the collector’s last name.

“I like people, and I like people who like to collect,” Baker, gregarious and welcoming, noted of his post-retirement store owner status. Baker’s prior career began just six months after he graduated college, in 1986, when he became the youngest-ever Dunkin’ Donuts franchisee, with a site in Hackensack. He spent 30 years in this line of work (and yes, he has Dunkin’ Donuts memorabilia).

The yard at Baker’s house on the beach road is the first obvious clue that the owner has a penchant for salvage. Signs are secured on the fence all around the residence: from the Quarter Deck Inn, the Brant Beach Village General Store, Hands, Paul’s Coin Laundry, Foster’s Landscaping and many more. Bageleddi’s old green “Delicatessen & Bakery” sign is there, although with the “Y” removed from “Bakery” to mimic Baker’s last name.

A few of the signs have been procured recently, including from MKT Eatery and Pyour Core, which were in the recently torn-down Surf City Square. Oh, and Baker has the Surf City Square sign, too.

There are tikis from Mr. Tee’s Shark Island miniature golf as well – the location closed last year – and he’s due to get placards from Lex Mex’s former location in Ship Bottom and Lucille’s candy shop on Route 72 in Manahawkin.

HANG 10: The original sign from the original Ron Jon’s surf shop is prominently displayed on a wall in Baker’s dining room.

Inside are more signs: from Dom’s Drive-In, which used to sit just a few blocks from Baker’s house before it was shut down and razed in 2020 after 30-plus years; from the Original Ron Jon’s in Ship Bottom; from Kubel’s and Kubel’s Too.

Baker has also framed old LBI maps; train time tables; the schedule for the “Lora Lee” cruise from Beach Haven to Atlantic City, captained by Leon Lovett; and a flyer advertising a circus, vaudeville show and dance in the opera house in Barnegat in 1911, to benefit the High Point Yacht Club (admission 25 cents for adults and 15 cents for children). The flyer was gifted to Harvey Cedars Mayor Reynold Thomas from Lola E. Williams in 1969.

A small wooden sign, meanwhile, advertises “Beach Haven Ice & Cold Storage,” and the phone number: 66.

Baker has the old Wizard of Odds Antiques sign, a wall of sponsor banners from the local fishing tournaments over the years and another banner publicizing hydroplane races – on Aug. 18, 1968 – to benefit the Beach Haven Exchange Scholarship Fund.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Dom’s Drive-In was a Brant Beach staple for decades – just blocks from both Baker’s house and his shop, Antique Peddler – before it closed in 2020.

“My goal is to preserve the Island,” Baker explained, adding, “I’m definitely leaning towards opening a museum,” with, perhaps, a floor for an antiques shop and a floor for the museum.

For now, though, Baker, who lives with rescue dog Summer, is content collecting, and talking with other collectors – and donors. Often, Baker pointed out, people reach out to him to see if he’d like a signboard or other souvenir, as he’s known as a gatherer of ephemera. Sometimes he seeks out or happens upon memorabilia that he’ll purchase. Other times, stuff is simply dropped off – bringing the treasure hunt right to his house.

Antique Peddler will be open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day through the fall, as well as “whenever people want to come in.” To contact Baker, call 201-988-6976 or email Mitch@Team-Baker.com.

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