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Red Bank, NJ — Antiques, New Age and Kevin Smith

By Marilyn Loeser

“I understand you can’t visit Red Bank without making a stop here,” I said of the comic book store.

“That’s what they tell me,” the man behind the counter said as he rang up my purchase.

“Weren’t you in some of the movies?” I asked as I paid for my Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash t-shirt.

Walter Flanagan nodded, “Yea, but you probably don’t remember.”

“You were a protester in one of the movies, weren’t you?” I countered.

He brightened a little, “Yea, in Dogma.”

Actually Flanagan has been in every Kevin Smith movie including Mallrats, Clerks, Chasing Amy and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

I’m sure my inquiries have been asked hundreds of times before by other fans of View Askew Productions making a pilgrimage to the New Jersey store. As manager, Flanagan is, after all, a very accessible link to filmmaker Kevin Smith.

Flanagan seems to take his responsibility in stride.

The comic book store and haven for Smith movie memorabilia is located in the heart of town on Broad Street. Parts of Chasing Amy, Dogma, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back were filmed in this small community located just 20 miles south of New York City.

For example, directly across from the comic book store is Jack's Music Shoppe, a location in Chasing Amy. And, from time to time, other actors from Smith’s movies make appearances in the store.

History

But, there’s more to Red Bank than Kevin Smith, Silent Bob and Jay.

Perched on the banks of the Navesink River, with a size of less than 2 square miles and a population just shy of 12,000, Red Bank has a lot to offer visitors year round — whether you’re a View Askew movie fan or not.

Red Bank was settled in the 17th century and named for the red clay banks along the river. By 1844, Red Bank had become a commercial center, focusing on textiles, fur, tanning and manufacturing goods for sale in Manhattan.

When the river was dredged in the mid-1800s, Red Bank became a steamboat port for commuters traveling to and from Manhattan. Soon after, the Raritan and Delaware Bay Railroad arrived offering another way to easily travel to the Big Apple and beyond.

Although Red Bank remained economically strong throughout most of the 20th century, its economy began to decline in the late 1980s. During the next decade, a portion of the business district was designated a special improvement district and the result is what guests find today.

Attractions

Boutiques, antique shops, designer clothing and home stores, new age establishments, parks and restaurants line refurbished streets.

The Count Basie Theatre hosts nationally known performers including Bill Cosby, Bob Newhart, Foreigner, Andy Williams, B.B. King and others. Count Basie was born in Red Bank.

The Two River Theatre Company also opened a large performance space last year and features classical music, plays and dance performances among its offerings.

Boating, sculling, sailing and fishing are popular outdoor activities in Red Bank. The Monmouth Boat Club, Marine Park and the slips of the Molly Pitcher Inn provide access to the river and, from there, the Atlantic Ocean.

So if you’re thinking of a Jersey Shore vacation, love antiquing or want to revisit a Kevin Smith movie scene, Red Bank might just be an ideal vacation destination this year.

If you go:
Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash is located at 35 Broad Street and is open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. For more information check the website at www.viewaskew.com/jsbstash/.

Train service to Red Bank operates on the North Jersey Coast Line. By car, Red Bank is two miles east of Exit 109 of the Garden State Parkway.

For more information visit the website www.emacc.org/.

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