Neglected for years, demolition slowly begins at infamous Southern NJ landmark

As the saying goes, "Here today, gone tomorrow."

Or at least, "demolition work has finally started but it's moving at a snail's pace."

But progress is progress, I suppose. And I think it's safe to say that not many people are sad to see this building fade into the history books.

Our travels today take us to Williamstown in Gloucester County where it appears to be the beginning of the end for an old auto repair shop/gas station.

And if you are already asking what the big deal is about a gas station being knocked down, please allow me to explain.

• AUGUST 2022: Pornographic Landmark in Williamstown Reduced to Rubble

I grew up in Williamstown. Lived there for decades, as a matter of fact. I went to Radix Elementary School and Oak Knoll (back when it was a middle school). I lived there in my 20s and 30s and I still have family there.

And for as long as I have been alive, right at the busiest intersection in town, two things have stood the test of time.

On one side of the Black Horse Pike and Sicklerville Road is the legendary Geets Diner — or as I call it, Williamstown's only landmark (every set of directions ever given that involves someone finding a place in Williamstown has referenced Geets Diner).

However, on the other side of that corner, sits an old gas station / car repair / towing place that has been empty and neglected for what feels like my entire life (I'm not exaggerating).

It was last a used car lot, but that closed sometime between 2013 and 2015. Since then, the building has been sitting empty, right on the busiest corner in all of Monroe Township.

That all changed within the past few weeks as temporary fencing went up around the old building and parts appear to be disappearing.

Humorously enough, right before the work started, most of the signs were taken down, all except one that said "end." A very fitting tribute to a thorn that has been in the side of Williamstown's residents for a really long time.

While I'm not exactly sure what's happening to that building, it is interesting to note how slowly work there is being done.

Actually, I haven't seen much of anything happening there the past few times I've driven by, but pieces of the building seem to be disappearing.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that something new and exciting will soon grace this corner.