Cherrywood Lounge Closes Its Doors

Valentine’s Day 2011 marked the last hurrah for local staple Cherrywood Lounge.

A favorite watering hole since it opened in 1971, loyal patrons turned out in droves to bid bon voyage to their favorite bar.

Retiree Gail Gougon came out with friends, all wearing black and white T-shirts that read “Last Call 02/14/11.” They appeared to be in high spirits, ordering drinks at a ravenous pace and snapping photos with fellow barflies.

“I’ve been coming here 29 years. I’m really very upset,” she admitted. “There aren’t many of the oldies who come back anymore, but I like the young kids that come in now.”

Adina Defelice, 32, could barely contain her emotion on the night. She’s been a bartender at Cherrywood for four years and feels a deep connection to the Blackwood Clementon Road landmark.

“There are so many people tonight who are just saying, 'I’ve been coming in since I‘ve been 21.’ This is like a family, like a 'Cheers.' I’m already ready to cry,” she lamented around 9 p.m. Monday.

Like Gougon, Defelice noted the diversity of the regular Cherrywood crowd: “Black, white, young, old, everyone gets along. It’s a real neighborhood bar. I know every single person (here) right now. I’ve invited them over to my house afterward.”

The décor lent itself to the cozy family affair. Balloons and intimate tables for two were set up near a buffet of meatballs, sausage and peppers, and hoagies. Bartenders helped clear away any empty plates.

All eyes, however, were on the man of the hour—general manager Marty Collins. Wearing a yellow rose on his sweater, he was greeted with reverence by every patron. Defelice describes him as a “second father” to much of the staff.

With the eve of his retirement upon him, Collins took a few moments to wax philosophical.

“It’s 40 years. There’s a lot of mixed emotions. We thought tonight was going to be our last night. We’re asking for an extension since some final details weren’t worked out for the move," he said. "We didn’t find this out til last week. If I’d known, I would have pushed it back so we didn’t have to compete with Valentine’s Day.”

Inside Cherrywood, Valentine’s Day never stood a chance.

The Cherrywood liquor store will move across the street to the former Hollywood Video location. The Township Council on Monday approved a resolution authorizing the transfer of the establishment's liquor license effective Feb. 22.