Teaneck is a humble New Jersey town with a flourishing history dating back to the 1600s. It’s known for its lively Cedar Lane, hopping West Englewood Avenue shops, and for being the home of influential figures such as jazz musician Count Basie and Nobel laureate in physics Arno Penzias. Teaneck is also credited with being the first community in the United States to voluntarily integrate its public schools in 1965.

For Aaron Klein, it’s also the place he has called home for the past 40 years. Klein has a deep passion for his hometown, and created a Teaneck version of the classic Monopoly board game, aptly titled Teaneckopoly, which celebrated its third version with the release of the exciting 20th Anniversary Edition, this past week.

“I’ve always taken pride in my town,” Klein shared. “There’s a reason I’ve lived here for so long. It’s where my wife and I grew up and where we’re raising our kids. Teaneckopoly is a celebration of those memories and all the special places, and I’m so excited to be sharing an updated 2023 version of this favorite, time-honored game.”

For the new edition, Klein has included a number of landmark locations to the board, including Cedar Market as “Start,” Holy Name Hospital and Fairleigh Dickinson University. Even The Jewish Link itself is on the board!

“If you’ve ever lived in Teaneck, or its nearby surrounding areas, you’ll recognize most on the new board,” Klein said.. “The four Railroad spots are the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the Police Department, the Fire Department and Teaneck Public Schools. FDU appears on the back of the ‘Community’s Best’ cards, and we are honoring Bischoff’s, who are on the back of the ‘Advance’ cards. [Think: Community Chest and Chance]. The Teaneckopoly game helps to bring people together in commemoration of our unique and beloved community, while promoting and celebrating the hardworking local businesses and establishments forming Teaneck’s incredible infrastructure.”

Klein created the first version of Teaneckoply in 2003 when he was still a student at the University of Maryland. He worked on the game out of his dorm room, and now publishes magazines across Bergen County while running a marketing consulting firm and production company.

For the new edition, as well as the previous version, Klein’s wife managed the game design, while Klein managed local business participation, logistics and overall production.

“It’s been great to involve my family in the process, and this was a wonderful team effort,” Klein continued. “Our kids play it on Shabbos with their friends, and it’s always a lot of fun watching them point out their favorite locations on the board. And for this version, we actually welcomed their input. I grew up playing Monopoly, and they are growing up playing Teaneckopoly.”

In Klein’s latest iteration of Teaneckopoly, the available pieces for players to use include a mailman, school bus, a train and a raccoon. (“Because it’s not an authentic Teaneck game without a raccoon,” Klein quipped.)

“It was a lot of fun working with the businesses we include on the board. We had so many ideas, and focused on ones that we thought would have the most broad appeal, signifying a snapshot of our town in order to join forces and pay homage to the hardworking local participants and loyal patrons. We all love Teaneck and feel grateful and lucky to be a part of this powerful community, and we wanted there to be something that everyone can point to on the board and smile over.”

With the launch of the newest release, this current edition not only commemorates the game’s 20th anniversary, but this beautiful, fun and vibrant game highlights the growth and collaborative spirit that has shaped Teaneckopoly into a beloved symbol of the town’s identity.

“We are all better together, and Teaneckopoly is an avenue designed to gather friends and family to unplug and enjoy,” Klein said. “In more ways than one, it is an effort to come together, take steps and move forward positively. Teaneckopoly is more than just a board game; the board is a celebration of our shared history. The new edition is a nod to the evolution of our town. It’s a way of saying, ‘This is us—where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re headed.’”

Since the release of its original edition, three versions prior and 20 years ago, Teaneckopoly has found itself a strong and vast following among the township’s residents. For them, it’s become a staple of leisure including (but not limited to) Saturday and Sunday afternoon activities.

“In many ways, Teaneckopoly is a time capsule,” Klein went on to say. “It is an honorary contribution to capture the many great things of our town, preserving not just its physical landmarks but the spirit of the people who have shaped its identity. It all comes together to tell a story, a story of resilience and a shared commitment to the continuity of our community. We are hoping for a bright future ahead, and while we don’t know exactly where we’ll be in another 10 years, we’ll always have this game to see how things were in 2023.”

Teaneckopoly is currently available for purchase in around a dozen stores across Teaneck, or you can order yours directly by emailing [email protected].

Adam Samuel is a journalist from Teaneck. He blogs at www.adamssoapbox.com.