



N

ewark, New Jersey: A community institution in the Ironbound section of Newark's East Ward has closed its doors for the last time.

Byk's Food went out of business on January 5, nearly 87 years after it opened. Now, for the first time since the building was constructed, the space is now available for lease.





The convenience store, deli, and catering service was located across from the St. Casimir Church and Ironbound Catholic Academy at 99 Pulaski Street, at the corner of East Kinney Street.





Dennis Byk, who was the store owner, told Essex County Place that Byk's Food was in his family for four generations until he retired. However, Byk said that the surrounding 'Down Neck' neighborhood

"looks the same as it did a hundred years ago", shortly before Byk's opened. The area's population used to mainly consist of Irish and Polish Newarkers. Many of their descendants later moved to suburbs, and according to Byk, his business was probably "the last polish place in Newark".





Clinton Deli in Irvington is now the last remaining old-fashioned Polish deli in Essex County.





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