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GEORGE SCHATZ was born in New York on January 20, 1903, the son of Israel and Lena Schatz, Jewish immigrants from Russia. The Schatz family had come to Camden during the 1910s, and at the time of the 1920 Israel Schatz was the proprietor of a restaurant, in which son Benjamin was the manager, daughters Kate and Sarah waitresses, and George worked in the kitchen. Two other sons, Jacob and Philip, were still in school. The family resided at 210-212 Arch Street in these years. George Schatz went into business for himself when he opened up George's Auto Service, a small battery recharging and tire repair shop in 1924. His business prospered, and he moved within a years time to 213 Federal Street. He married Naomi Bush, daughter of Camden grocer Max Bush, around 1926. At the time of the 1930 Census they lived above the shop with newborn son Kenneth above the shop. Sadly, Kenneth died at the age of three from mastoiditis. There was another child, a daughter, Elaine, born after the Census. The Schatz family moved to East Camden by 1936, buying a home at 29 South 38th Street. Business went so well for George Schatz that a new two story auto repair facility was built around the corner on the 200 block of Arch Street before 1930, on the site where the Schatz family restaurant had stood. Brothers Jacob (Jack) and Philip joined him in the auto repair business. George Schatz attributed his success to keeping up with the times. His shop always had the latest diagnostic and repair equipment. He also advertised heavily. The year 1936 saw George's Auto Service open up a new shop at 1111 Haddon Avenue, twice the size of the Arch Street facility, which was later sold. After World War II the still growing George's Auto Service moved once again to 1867 Haddon Avenue, the former home of the Camden Cadillac and Airport Pontiac car dealerships. The 1947 Camden City Directory shows George Schatz was still residing at 29 South 38th Street in East Camden. He would by 1959 move to 341 Station Avenue in Haddonfield. George's Auto Service would remain at 1867 Haddon Avenue this address into the 1960s, when another move was made, to Route 38 and Strand Avenue in Pennsauken NJ, at the approach to the Airport Circle and Admiral Wilson Boulevard. When the 1960s drew to a close, George Schatz was living in the Towers of Windsor Park apartments on Chapel Avenue in Cherry Hill NJ. He would move again by 1977, to the Mark 70 Apartments on Route 70 in Cherry Hill. George Schatz was also involved in the restaurant business, with a well known establishment known as the Embers Restaurant which stood in Route 38 in Pennsauken in the 1950s and 1960s. . George's Auto Service would remain on Route 70 in Pennsauken until it was sold in the 1980s. George Schatz passed away on December 28, 1987. George Schatz's older brother, Benjamin Schatz, moved to Westville, New Jersey in the 1920s where he oprated a grocery for many years. |
Camden Courier-Post - June 29, 1933 | ||||
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Camden Courier-Post - October 7, 1936 |
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210-216
Arch Street October 1936 |
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1111
Haddon Avenue October 1936 |
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