Coaster Photo
Andy Bartlett is co-owner of Murray’s Army and Navy in Bradley Beach,
a business that began in 1933 in Asbury Park.
By ED SALVAS
Murray’s Army Navy store in Bradley Beach is one of the oldest businesses in the shore area, but what started out as a place to buy surplus military gear has moved beyond the khaki and camouflage to tee shirts and caps.
“Anyone who wears a printed tee shirt” is how Andy Bartlett describes the customers of the store at 312 Main St. in Bradley Beach. Bartlett is the co-owner of Murray’s; it’s a 50-50 partnership with his son Stephen, who will take over when Andy retires and then become the third generation owner of the Bartlett family business.
The business was founded by Murray Gordon in Asbury Park in 1933. Andy’s father worked with him for 25 years and bought the business following the Asbury Park riots in 1971. Andy took over in ’81 and moved the store to Bradley Beach.
The business model of selling surplus Military goods changed as the products became harder to get. Murray’s began selling work clothes and uniforms for police and fire personnel and postal workers. Most of the surplus product came from China, even American flags, Bartlett said, but they did sell some U. S.made surplus, including gas masks which sold well during the Gulf War in the early 1990’s.
The future of Murray’s business is in custom screenprinting and embroidery, Bartlett said. Customers are businesses, clubs, organizations and schools, as well as construction companies, charter boats, restaurants and even families who want tee shirts for everyone attending a party or special family event.
Keeping up with technology is a necessary part of the business, and Bartlett said they are moving away from manual screen printing to a new machine that will speed up the printing process. They will also be making a name change, dropping the “Army-Navy” for Murray’s Screen Printing and Embroidery.
Bartlett’s family includes his wife of 47 years, Louanne, a retired Bradley Beach school secretary, their daughter Donna Maggio, now a teacher there, and twin sons Stephen and Andrew. Find out more at info@MurraysNJ.com
