Ralph, I grew up in Fair Lawn and my first SW tank was in my bedroom back when I was at Fair Lawn HS about 30 years ago. I also had a cichlid tank and a mixed community FW tank. For a few years there was an aquarium store in Fair Lawn at Fair Lawn Ave and Plaza Rd that had a SW section. I don't think anyone was growing corals then. I only remember fish.
I had a hippo tang and a clown in a 30g with an under gravel filter. That was how I was told to do it. This predates the tang police, or, they didn't come to Fair Lawn. Small tank but the tang didn't live long enough to outgrow it. Wasn't until many years later that I got back into the hobby.
Best of luck with your store. Hope to visit you someday.