Cherry Hill, NJ was an unforgettable place to grow up

Upon arriving to Rutgers, I quickly got asked, “Where are you from?” And as soon as I answered Cherry Hill, people would then jump to the next question and ask, “So, North Jersey or South Jersey?” With the answer being South Jersey, people quickly assumed that I either grew up on a farm, or knew the Jersey Shore cast.

And for those of you who quickly assume that South Jersey is either farmland or classless, you’re missing out on Cherry Hill—and yes, it’s more than just a cherry tree and a measly hill. We call those long sandwiches “hoagies”, that meat on breakfast sandwiches “pork roll”, and yes, we refer to Philly as “the city”, and prefer it much more to New York.

If you don’t know where Cherry Hill is, or have no interest of ever going there, here’s a breakdown of why it’s so great.

Cherry Hill Mall

We have the best mall in South Jersey, and for those who don’t want to drive all the way out to King of Prussia or outlet stores, it is the next best option. The Cherry Hill Mall has nearly all of your shopping necessities. From Armani Exchange and Michael Kors to Forever 21 and The LEGO Store, this mall has it all.

Besides their range of shops, the best part about the Cherry Hill Mall is their eating options. What other mall has its own bistro in the middle of the mall? I mean, seriously. The “Bistro at Cherry Hill” guarantees you a better meal than any typical food court order, and to go there is just another excuse to people watch. In addition to the “Bistro” and the food court, the Cherry Hill Mall also has “Maggiano’s Little Italy”, “California Pizza Kitchen”, “Bobby’s Burger Palace”, “Grand Lux Cafe”, and so many other choices. You think debating buying that top is difficult? Try figuring out where you’re going to eat.

High school rivalry

Just like any hometown, there is always a high school rivalry. For us, it’s Cherry Hill East (go Cougars!) versus Cherry Hill West. Unfortunately, both football teams play terribly, and we really only take pride in the football team during the annual Thanksgiving game.  Each school is always competing against one another for better school productions, academic achievements, and overall school pride.  Luckily though, East’s basketball team dominates and is consistently ranked in the top 10 in South Jersey.

The Jewish Population

The majority of the population in Cherry Hill is Jewish, myself included. In Cherry Hill, it’s common to see students in middle school and high school donning Bat and Bar Mitzvah attire from the past weekend. There are too many synagogues in Cherry Hill to count, with most kids going to a Jewish sleep-away camp for the summer. The school district takes off for Jewish holidays and most residents belong to the local JCC. But even though Cherry Hill is labeled as a “Jewish town”, it has such a large population that the majority of my hometown friends aren’t Jewish.

Wawa

Whether you’re blessed and graced with the presence of Wawa in your hometown or not, everyone at Rutgers knows about this convenience store. In Cherry Hill, there is a Wawa on the corner of every block, and there is always still a line. Everyone in goes to Wawa before any high school sporting event, movie, and any road trip. Going to Wawa is a rite of passage when you live in Cherry Hill.

Springdale Farms

Ok, so we have a farm. But everyone knows Springdale Farms. It has the best homemade pies, produce, and don’t even get me started on their apple cider doughnuts. The farm exemplifies the community’s support for locally grown produce and local businesses. Additionally, Springdale Farms hosts hayrides during Halloween, Easter egg hunts, and “pick-your-own” harvests.

Located five miles outside of Philly

This is your warning, North Jersey natives: when in Cherry Hill, Philly will be referred to as “the city”, and we’ll be proud of it. Sure, people come to New York for the American Dream, but the City of Brotherly Love is where it all began. This city has so much history – Philly has the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the first U.S. Mint, Betsy Ross’s house, the infamous Rocky steps, and so much more. And Philly has the best cheesesteaks and soft pretzels. Living in Cherry Hill means that I can live in a comfortable suburb and not have to deal with the chaos of the city, while still being able to get there within fifteen minutes.

The Cherry Blossoms

Would we really be Cherry Hill without cherry trees? The most scenic part about Cherry Hill is the bloom of the cherry trees on Chapel Avenue. This two-mile road has over 1,400 cherry blossom trees on both sides of the road and, when in season, provide commuters with a scenic route. Cherry Hill firefighters plant them annually, and once in full bloom, residents can then officially rejoice in the beginning of spring.

Even though everyone from Cherry Hill hates Cherry Hill, it’s home to me.