End of an Era

A longtime presence in the downtown business district is gone.

Albert Pittis, who managed the Pittis Estate, has retired.

The Pittis family developed many of the storefronts downtown. Paramount Property Management acquired the Pittis Estate a year or so ago and Albert Pittis continued to manage property until his retirement this year.

Paramount, now known as Paramount Assets, has renovated many of the stores but quite a few are still vacant. Rent increases have driven out a number of business owners or caused them to relocate. The promise of more high-end merchandise and clothing downtown remains unfulfilled.

Meanwhile, store owners fondly recall Albert Pittis as a fair, honest and good-hearted member of the Plainfield business community.

--Bernice Paglia