Hotel Walt Whitman Coffee Shop

> > Demised < <
Corner of Broadway
& Cooper Street
(at the Bridge entrance)
Camden, New Jersey
Built in 1925 – active for about 50 years – demolished in the 1980s

Hines: Open all year. A popular eating place and prices are reasonable.

This is one of those situations in which I cannot find much on Hines' original destination, but through my research, I learn so much more about a city's history than I ever guessed—which is half the fun of this endeavor. Although little is recorded about the Walt Whitman Hotel Coffee Shop specifically, I was delighted to find that the Hotel, itself, had a remarkable life. I have included some links to amazing discoveries about Camden, NJ as well and many thanks to the folks who have made great efforts to maintain these archives online!

American Writer Walt Whitman essentially retired in Camden which is why so many things are named after him there (most obviously the bridge). Whitman said of the place:

"Camden was originally an accident, but I shall never be sorry I was left over in Camden. It has brought me blessed returns."

In his day (later 1880s) Camden was a quiet suburb to Philly. There he was visited by Charles Dickens, William M. Thackeray, and Oscar Wilde! The house is now a museum... more from this great South Jersey Blog.

Camden was once a prosperous & progressive city. Cambell's (soup) headquarters were founded there in 1869 as well as Victor Talking Machine Company in 1901. The last decades of Camden's decline are actually quite brief in the span of its history. Read an amazing time line of Camden!

"Several hotels operated here over the years, including Walt Whitman Hotel, where Red Skelton is said to have requested a room on the second floor, so he could lower his dog, rather than walk it."
: Paul W. Schopp, a local historian

The Walt Whitman was one of several impressive hotels serving visitors to Philly and local businesses. It was opened in 1929 in a remarkable effort to create a hotel essentially owned by the community. For many decades it hosted the clubs, parties and celebrations of the community as well as a large collection of Walt Whitman portraits. Some events recorded as many as 600 attendees.

The Walt Whitman was the scene of the city's fancier soirees, where [I] saw several friends get married. Our high school fraternity had its annual sweetheart ball there. The Walt Whitman brings back wonderful memories. It was a different time for Camden."
: Retired Judge M. Allan Vogelson, who grew up in Camden

The coffee shop that Hines visited was becoming a common feature in many hotels and department stores in the 1930s & 40s. He recorded similar listings in other major urban areas such as Newark and of course, New York City. Click on the article to read an account of the "new" addition of air conditioning. In the 1950s a hip cocktail lounge was added on the upper floor.

As the first cracks in the economic foundation of Camden appeared in the 1950s, some of the Hotel's neighboring theatres and businesses closed or moved. Still it hung on, even into the 1970s when it hosted a press conference with President Nixon & Governor Cahill. Although the W.W. Hotel was demolished in the 1980s, you can peruse this extraordinary archive of W.W. Hotel which really shows the breadth of activity during its "Golden Age."