Ducktown, Atlantic City
Encyclopedia
Ducktown is a historically Italian American
district of Atlantic City, New Jersey
, United States
, stretching from Missouri Avenue to Texas Avenue. The Press of Atlantic City
called the neighborhood "Atlantic City's Little Italy
."
, residents began leaving the neighborhood for automobile suburbs, sending Ducktown into a decline. Pitney Village, a housing project built in the neighborhood, was widely seen as contributing to the decline.
St. Michael's Catholic Church has been cited as a focal point of the neighborhood before and after the decline. By the 1990s some families, mostly Hispanic and Asian, were returning to the neighborhood, and the Pitney Village housing project was demolished, leading to a renewal of the community.
community, and Italian flags can be seen adorning buildings. Italian Mafia boss Nicodemo Scarfo
, aka "Little Nicky", once called Ducktown his home, and his mother lived there for many years.
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
district of Atlantic City, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, stretching from Missouri Avenue to Texas Avenue. The Press of Atlantic City
The Press of Atlantic City
The Press of Atlantic City is a daily newspaper based in Pleasantville, New Jersey. It is the primary newspaper for most of southeastern New Jersey and the Jersey Shore, publishing regional editions for Atlantic County, Cumberland County, Cape May County, and southern Ocean County...
called the neighborhood "Atlantic City's Little Italy
Little Italy
Little Italy is a general name for an ethnic enclave populated primarily by Italians or people of Italian ancestry, usually in an urban neighborhood.-Canada:*Little Italy, Edmonton, in Alberta*Little Italy, Montreal, in Quebec...
."
History
Italian immigrants heavily settled Ducktown in the early 20th century and named it for the duck houses they built along the bayfront, where they raised poultry and waterfowl. As with many American ethnic neighborhoods, after World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, residents began leaving the neighborhood for automobile suburbs, sending Ducktown into a decline. Pitney Village, a housing project built in the neighborhood, was widely seen as contributing to the decline.
St. Michael's Catholic Church has been cited as a focal point of the neighborhood before and after the decline. By the 1990s some families, mostly Hispanic and Asian, were returning to the neighborhood, and the Pitney Village housing project was demolished, leading to a renewal of the community.
Population
Ducktown is home to a large Italian AmericanItalian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
community, and Italian flags can be seen adorning buildings. Italian Mafia boss Nicodemo Scarfo
Nicodemo Scarfo
Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Domenico Scarfo is a member of the American Mafia who eventually became the Boss of the Philadelphia crime family after the death of Angelo Bruno and Phil Testa...
, aka "Little Nicky", once called Ducktown his home, and his mother lived there for many years.
Entertainment venues
- Boardwalk HallBoardwalk HallBoardwalk Hall, formally known as the Historic Atlantic City Convention Hall, is an arena in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States...
on Mississippi Avenue and the Boardwalk - Dante Hall Theater of the Arts on Mississippi Avenue
Hotel
- Trump PlazaTrump Plaza (Atlantic City)Trump Plaza is a hotel and casino located on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Designed by architect Martin Stern, Jr., it was opened in 1984 and is one of two casinos owned by Trump Entertainment Resorts...
, one of the city's 11 casinos, is located in Ducktown on Mississippi Avenue.
Food
- The White House Sub Shop on Arctic Avenue - Known for the A-list celebrities who often frequent this establishment, the White House was opened by Anthony Basile, along with Alfred "Fritz" Sacco, in 1946 when Basile came back from the army while serving in the PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. It has been family owned and operated for over 60 years. - Angelo's Fairmount Tavern on Fairmount Avenue - Family owned and operated since 1935, the restaurant is known for its Italian cuisineItalian cuisineItalian cuisine has developed through centuries of social and political changes, with roots as far back as the 4th century BCE. Italian cuisine in itself takes heavy influences, including Etruscan, ancient Greek, ancient Roman, Byzantine, Jewish and Arab cuisines...
as well as steaks and seafood. - Angeloni's II on Arctic and Georgia Avenues - Family owned and operated since 1981, the restaurant is known for its Italiane cuisine and expansive wine list.
- Dock's Oyster House on Atlantic Avenue - Atlantic City's oldest restaurant (circa 1897), it features a pianist on many nights.
- The Ducktown Tavern on Georgia Avenue - A newly renovated bar and restaurant.
- Russo's Liquor Store - Located on the corner of Florida and Pacific Avenues, has been there since 1973 and is the original Ducktown liquor store.
Italian bakeries
Ducktown has long been the home of several bakeries; there are two still in operation:- Formica Brothers Bakery and Café - Established in 1919 by Francesco Formica, Formica Brothers Bakery moved to its current location in 1928. Frank D. Formica, third generation owner/operator recently transformed the retail bakery shop located at 2310 Arctic Avenue into a state of the art Cafe (open daily 7am - 7pm, Wi-Fi enabled) serving Seattle's Best coffee. The bakery produces over 30,000 loaves of bread a day for over 300 corporate accounts, including local casinos and restaurants. Product offerings: Italian sub loaves, Artisan Breads, Cannolis, Cookies, Biscotti, Tomato Pie.
- A. Rando Bakery - Opened in 1909, this bakery focuses almost exclusively on producing subs, dinner rolls, and table bread for area stores and restaurants.
Transportation
- The Atlantic City Rail TerminalAtlantic City Rail TerminalThe Atlantic City Rail Terminal is Atlantic City, New Jersey's train station. It is the easternmost stop on the Atlantic City Line to and from Philadelphia and the Atlantic City Express Service to and from New York City and Newark. The Atlantic City terminal is a 5-track, 3-platform terminal...
is located one block from Ducktown at Arkansas and Fairmount Avenues. It is the southern terminus of New Jersey TransitNew Jersey TransitThe New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
's Atlantic City LineAtlantic City LineThe Atlantic City Line is a rail line operated by New Jersey Transit between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Atlantic City, New Jersey, operating along the corridor of the White Horse Pike. It runs over trackage that was controlled by both the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Pennsylvania-Reading...
to Philadelphia. - The Atlantic City Bus TerminalAtlantic City Bus TerminalThe Atlantic City Bus Terminal is a regional bus station and a major stop for New Jersey Transit buses in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Located at the 1900 block of Atlantic Avenue, the station is now only half its size as part of it was built for a Polo Ralph Lauren store in the Atlantic City Outlets...
is located four blocks from Ducktown at Michigan and Atlantic Avenues. It provides scheduled service by both Greyhound LinesGreyhound LinesGreyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
and New Jersey TransitNew Jersey Transit Bus OperationsNew Jersey Transit Bus Operations is the bus division of New Jersey Transit, providing bus service throughout New Jersey along with service along one light rail line, with many routes going to New York City and Philadelphia.-History:...
. - The Atlantic City Jitney AssociationAtlantic City Jitney AssociationThe Atlantic City Jitney Association is an association of operators of minibus service in Atlantic City, New Jersey, providing service at all times on 3 fixed routes, daytime service on a fourth fixed route, and bus-to-rail connections from the Atlantic City Rail Terminal, providing connections to...
provides minibus service between Ducktown and other Atlantic City neighborhoods.