Main Street, Newark DE – The Times They Are A-Changin

2016 Update - When Mod Betty originally wrote about Main Street in Newark Delaware 6 years ago, it was a treat to know that the places she had loved from years before still were open and retained their authentic vintage charm. Fast forward to 2016 and all but one of those remain authentically "Retro Roadmap worthy" - the National 5 & 10.

Sadly the Post House closed in 2012, and Bing's, while still the longest running bakery in New Castle County, has been remodeled  so the interior no longer looks like these photos. They're still a swell bakery, so I'm leaving this post here, but don't go there and be surprised it doesn't look like this.

I'm also putting the National 5 &10 on a separate page of their own. 

2010: I can't tell you how delighted I was to re-visit Main Street in Newark Delaware to find 3 of my favorite old fashioned businesses still going strong. Next time you need a tasty breakfast, baked goods or random sundries from a 5 and 10, head to this stretch of road near the University of Delaware and enjoy a day on good old Main Street. Just remember it's New-ARK, like Noah built!
Bing's Bakery 235 East Main Street - interior updated since posted in 2010.

I used to work across the street from Bing's and was always charmed by their signage and turquoise, pegboard and knotty pine interior, and was tickled to see that the new owners had not messed with this classic look.

Founded in 1946 by Russell and Selina Bing, the bakery changed hands in 2005 when Selina turned the keys over to her head baker of 9 years, Tom Guzzi and his wife, Carla Guzzi. Delaware's "longest running" bakery was abuzz with customers when I was there, from regulars picking up donuts, to a young couple discussing their wedding cake.

A pleasant counter gal helped me buy my bag of sunflower shaped sugar cookies, and when I asked how long the bakery had been there, a wonderfully friendly customer chimed in that her sister had been married in 1959 and got her wedding cake from Bing's. She added that it was great that this place was still around, being one of the only bakeries left in New Castle County, and I have to agree!

Bing's Bakery
253 East Main Street
Newark, DE 19711-7314
(302) 737-5310

The Post House Restaurant 145 East Main Street SADLY NOW CLOSED :-(
(RIP 1957-2012) I'm leaving the photos up here for future generations to know what they missed.

I used to love the simplicity of the Post House restaurant, with its minimalist mid century brick exterior and interior with a long counter top and burgundy banquettes for waiting. Somehow it felt more like a diner than the "real" diner on the next corner!

Oh how happy I was to find that Retro Roadhusband's report that the Post House was closed was an error on his part, and this great little lunch counter was still in business! I sat myself down at the counter and ordered myself a breakfast sandwich and reveled in the fact that this place really hadn't changed much since it opened at this location in 1957.
Interesting counter story- I wasn't necessarily eves-dropping but I could not help but hear the two gentlemen to my side discussing what I thought was a sports team- only to see when they stood up, that the Sonic they were referring to was the corporate drive in chain, as confirmed by the logo embroidered on one man's shirt. I thought it was a sweet victory indeed that even the folks making the joy of a car hop restaurant a little bit more generic could appreciate the actual authenticity of a place like the Post House.

And the rub? It closed after 55 yrs and was replaced by a Grilled Cheese Shop that barely lasted 2 years. The times, they are a-changin' indeed.