The Hollow remains a core Bridgeport community

Back in the '40s, Bridgeport had its first experience with white flight. Only this wasn't the 1940s.

[todays sarcasm]

Q -- How do you turn the Hollow into an empty hole?

A -- Check for green cards

[Joe G]

the English settlers are turning in their graves....this place is the azzhole of bpt...the rest of the city is even worse

[AVA]

Is the post going to do a daily story on the Hollow and other points of interest in Bridgeport.I hope they bring Body Guards

[bust a move]

So who else thinks that this is the opening salvo in a campaign to remake a worthless ghetto into a gentrify-able "hip" neighborhood?

[Gayngel DePara]

The Hollow home of Hairy Men and even Hairyer Women.

[riiigth]

article is a joke, the hollow is as hood as it gets

[bust a move]

riiigth wrote:

article is a joke, the hollow is as hood as it gets

Yeah, you know a neighborhood is low when its most significant business sells live chickens.

[A Liberal Independent]

Does anyone remember Bridgeport when it was a thriving industrial city? Industry on every corner for blue collar workers and good solid jobs, now all gone, outsourced to China. Back then people worked hard for a living and made decent wages, enough to buy a small house. My dad used to hang out in the Hollow when he was a kid but that was back in the 1930's. He's Hungarian descent and many of his friends came from the Hollow. From stories he told me when he was alive, it's nothing like it is today. I don't think I would want to drive through that area.

[Herewegoagain]

The problem in the Hollow is crazy zoning laws and overuse of section 8 housing vouchers. I grew up there and have found memories of walking Pequonnock St to downtown, or Seaside. We had a lot of local business like butchers, bakers, shoemakers. We had local taverns, great pizzia at Jerry's or Napoli's, and who can forget Bud's Lunch.

[Ann]

Herewegoagain wrote:

The problem in the Hollow is crazy zoning laws and overuse of section 8 housing vouchers. I grew up there and have found memories of walking Pequonnock St to downtown, or Seaside. We had a lot of local business like butchers, bakers, shoemakers. We had local taverns, great pizzia at Jerry's or Napoli's, and who can forget Bud's Lunch.

I've lived here my entire life and can not wait to get out now. I've watched the decline happen over the past 50 years, in every area of the city, and can't stand to be in the midst of it anymore. The booming little businesses that once were, are pretty much long gone. The streets are littered with trash in most areas and the houses are falling into disrepair at a rapid rate. It's extremely difficult to pay such high taxes here and watch all this happen. It's really sad for those of us who do remember what it was like back then. As far as the "Hollow" area is concerned, I wouldn't drive through there anymore, let alone walk it! It's way past time to go.

[Russ]

How can people destroy the area where they live...?

[Hollow Roots]

I lived in The Hollow from the time I was 3 till I was 17. I'm 48 now. I still drive through! This article is spot on: The Hollow is the melting pot neighborhood of Bridgeport. It's a neighborhood that has open arms for people from every ethnic background!

Back in the day - Angelo's Pear Tree Shop on Grand Street had homemade Italian ice in the summers. He also had a bike shop in the second storefront.

A documentary was once done on the Hells Angels at their clubhouse, which then existed on Harral Avenue.

Penny Candy at Pop's Variety on Pequonnock, Jerry's Pizza, Diorio's, Marc Drugs, Bud's Lunch, Jennie's Pizza, and a host of other memories!

Sure, The Hollow has it's crime, and it's seen everything from the racial tensions of the late '60s and early '70s as well as other things through the years. But, it's the starting point for many an immigrant.

There's so much history there, and so many people have had their starts there and, trust me, it's a lot better now than it was through the '80s.....

[Sabrina]

Instead of criticize the poor and less fortunate why can we The Government (THE CITY OF BRIDGEPORT) do something to solve the problems in the area...?

[God Bless America]

The only difference now is that the new immigrants are ILLEGAL and any do not want to learn the language or culture. The melting means that those that come here become part of the mix, NOT VICE VERSA! The Italians, Portuguese, etc ALL blended in, became Americans and kept their own traditions of course regarding food, etc, but NEVER demanded that the entire world speak their language! BIG DIFERRENCE!! And by the way the prior immigrants wanted their kids to be doctors and lawyers (higher education is ESSENTIAL to the success of these immigrants!!) And Bridgeport was conservative, not liberal (asking for a hand out), getting on the state dole for WHATEVER!! At first when these Mexicans came, they wanted nothing, now they all have State INsurance cards.......We must contonue tp cut taxes for small and large businesses so that these businesses can afford to give insurance to their employees, so they don't need to "go on state"

[God Bless Bridgeport]

Another small thing that we have inherited from Mexico and south and central america is GANGS!!There are plenty of them in BPT----We must take back BPT!!

[It doesnt fix anything]

Sabrina wrote:

Instead of criticize the poor and less fortunate why can we The Government (THE CITY OF BRIDGEPORT) do something to solve the problems in the area...?

The government will NEVER solve your problems or anybody elses and the SOONER you realize it, the BETTER off you will be!! The government in BPT is a IG part of the problem!!

[Hollow Roots]

God Bless Bridgeport wrote:

Another small thing that we have inherited from Mexico and south and central america is GANGS!!There are plenty of them in BPT----We must take back BPT!!

Oh, please! The Hollow has always had it's fair share of "gangs" of some sort. Biker "gangs" such as The Hells Angels, and back in the day - The Huns and Grateful Dead - were all around in The Hollow.

As my earlier post said - and ask any Central High graduate from the 1970's, there were racial tensions - and groups ("gangs") of students rioting all over the place and I can recall it happening at Central!

Like I said, I still drive through there when I'm in the area..... I don't hide the fact that I grew up in The Hollow, I wear it loud and proud!

[Tired of Stratford]

I'm a former resident of 15 years of the biggest arm pit in the state if not the nation yes I'm talking about BRIDGEPORT! The taxes were through the roof the city police department was and still is as corrupt as they come the past two mayors took bribes to the extent that one of them is in jail and the other one admitted to doing drugs while holding office. He cried on TV to the city resident's of BRIDGEPORT and asked for forgiveness. He remained in office until he was still the elections and never got re elected. the current mayor is no better. Good luck BRIDGEPORT you are doomed

[the nanny goat]

God Bless Bridgeport wrote:

Another small thing that we have inherited from Mexico and south and central america is GANGS!!There are plenty of them in BPT----We must take back BPT!!

You must be an idiot...Gangs have been around for a lot longer. What about the Italian and Irish mafias?? Start with those first which are much more organized and have a longer history in the City. Don't blame Latinos for something which was started by somebody else...

[Milford Resident]

bust a move wrote:

<quoted text>
Yeah, you know a neighborhood is low when its most significant business sells live chickens.

You know YOU too will have to start eat live chickens etc. They way the economy is now and will for sure get alot worse, you will have to learn how to survive on live chickens. Bite your tongue buddy.