Old Restaurants

[bobbbiez]

Well, sure have, jon. ;D

I'm very good friends with Louie Diana. Louie has owned quite a few places here in Utica and on the outskirts throughout the years. He was into everything.
I remember back in the 60's when my hair was down to my dupa and I wanted it cut so I went to my buddy, Louie, who was a hair dresser then and trusted him to do the job.

And before anyone ask. Yes, I've been in Peepers. Always stop to see my friends.

[bobbbiez]

Clipper, don't think Johnny Bullet had anything to do with Pixley's other then he frequent it along with Whitey's on Bleecker and others, since the owners were his buddies.

Frank (Caramadre), alias Johnny Bullet, owned Frankie Carr's on lower Bleecker. As he got older he leased it to Bobby Taurisano who ran it under a different name for a while till it closed for good.

Frank played the sax and played with Carmen Caramanica in their early years. Frank passed away in the 80's.

[Clipper]

Different Johnny Bullet. There was a little short guy with cauliflower ears, and a nose that covered half his face. There were pictures on the wall behind the bar of him, and his ring name was Johnny Bullets, supposedly for his quickness with his jabs, and combinations. HE definitely was at the Pixley. He had been there since the original owner that was nicknamed "Stumpy" ran it, on Pixley St.

I remember Franky Carr's too, but I never frequented that particular place. I used to go to Tag's, Nash's, McGuirls, Regal, Taylor Tavern, the Regency, Grimaldi's, but not much on the far east end. I worked in Yorkville, so I drank my way from Yorkville through the West End normally, haha. Wyondotte, Pete Kallassy's Little Tavern, Bud's Friendly Tavern, Kozar's, Liz's, Tracy Tavern (run by a guy named Eddie, another old boxer), Kelly's, the Regency, and finally went home. I sure don't miss those days. I got awful sick and tired of waking up sick and tired, LOL.

[bobbbiez]

It's funny you mentioned The Little Tavern. Old Pete talked me into working for him on the nights I was off at the Vista. What a place! I had a ball working there and met all kinds of people from all over. Some very weird and some very nice. Old Pete had quite the clientele. From Judges to the Highway Men. I suppose most came for the back room games. lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He was quite the gambler but one of the nicest people I've known. He had a big heart for all.

His son, young Pete, lives in CA not far from my sister.

Do you remember his son, Michael, who moved to New York City and went on to play Elvis in a movie on TV? The kid was so talented.

I think Old Pete and wife had eleven kids and all were so respectable. Quite a tight family.

Small world kiddo! ;D

[Clipper]

Backroom games hell! They played gin right in the front window for a nickel a point. That made for some big pots at the time when 100 bucks a week was a big paycheck. I remember you from Vista and Joe Tripps, but I didn't remember you from Pete's. Did John Leogrande from the L Truck Stop used to run Vista?

I was damn sure a regular at Little Tavern in my worst days as an alcoholic. I would simply pull in front, and he would set up three shots of Christian Bros, and three OV splits before I even went in.

He lived up off Woods Road in Whitesboro, and yes, they did have 11 kids. They lived in a building that was taken down at Griffiss and put back up on their lot. They brought out the true meaning of family, although I heard in later years they did divorce. He was a good dad and a good friend to those that knew him. He would do anything for you. His brother ran a coffee shop on South St.

I have memories both happy and sad from those days at Little Tavern. I was in the downward spiral with my drinking at that time. The tavern was the last place I drank before I checked into rehab and started a new and sober life. The Tavern and my "friends" from there were some of the people, places and things that I had to leave behind when I quit drinking.

Wanna talk about the old restaurants? Hell, when I quit drinking and got out of rehab, I started over in a $6 a day room at the YMCA. I had car and a job, but no apartment or kitchen. I hated the Y and spent all my evenings at the Patio, Jet Diner, Waffle House, HoJo's, and anywhere else that I could drink coffee and hang out until bed time. A favorite activity became stopping for hot fudge sundaes after an AA meeting, and drinking coffee with my sober friends until the wee small hours. I knew where ALL the specials and good family run restaurants were. I ate at Spagetti Joe's and Pescatore's and Nofri's and wherever spagetti was $3 with one meatball, or at the diners where meatloaf came with potato and two side dishes for 3 or 4 bucks.

[bobbbiez]

Yes, Papa Leogrande and John owned the truck stop and Vista Lanes/Lounge. I worked there full time and on the weekends I had off, I helped old Pete out.
John was in from Florida in the summer and we saw him a few times. The Leograndes were like a second family and very good to me and my family.
Pete was divorced for years but you'd never know it because he and his ex always got along and were together with the kids.

His brother, Wesee, owned Edna's Coffee shop on South St, (named after his wife) and guess what, I worked there to once in a while to help out. ;D
My younger sister, Vicky, worked there all the time. Wesee and Edna are Vicky's father-in-law and mother-in-law. Vicky married their son, Bobby. Their younger son, Joey, owns Quiznos Subs in N. Hartford.
Edna, my sister's mother-in-law is a Deller's girl and her parents owned Dellers Rest. which was on Schuyler St for many moons. Locate where Ralph's place of business is now.

See my friend, the world is a very small place.
Where you were hanging out to drink I was working in most of those places. Where you ate your meals I was stopping there after work to feed my face and whine down a little before heading home. Working two jobs to support five kids I didn't have much time then for any social life but through my jobs I got to meet the same people and go to the same places you know.

[jon hynes]

Dec 6, 2008 0:43:14 GMT -5 bobbbiez said:

His brother, Wesee, owned Edna's Coffee shop on South St, (named after his wife) and guess what, I worked there to once in a while to help out. ;D

I used to go to either Edna's, Steppy's or Johanne's for lunch when I worked in the area back in the '60s

[jon hynes]

[Clipper]

Did anyone ever go to Fitz's coffee shop across from Luizzi's drug store on James? I lived across from that place in the only house on the block.It was owned by Benny Julian, and occupied by me, and go go girls from the Elbow Room on South St. Haha. The scenery was nice, but the noise late at night was wicked, haha. I didn't need David Letterman for entertainment. I was awakened on night by a commotion, only to look out the front window and find one of the girls, stark naked, chasing her boyfriend down James St. with a butcher knife.LOL

[bobbbiez]

jon, that's a good one from Edna's. Both are retired now because of poor health but still toys around the gambling scene.

Edna's had some good clientele back in those days. If you wanted to get to know most of the Judges, DA's, lawyers and heads of city departments that was the place to go for breakfast. Kind of like Uncle Henry's Pancake House was for most.

[Clipper]

If I remember right sunshine, it was a good place to go bet the horses wasn't it? I know Pete used to play the ponies quite regular. I know the few times I was in there, everyone was reading the V.Downs programs or the racing form newspaper. Pete's brother was a nice guy, although I didn't know him except to see him in the coffee shop when I live on James, and stopped there a few times.

Did you ever know Nick Freeman the bookie? He used to ride to Vernon every night on the bus, and if he had big bucks to pick up, I would drive him back up to cash out with my car the next day. He would always give me $50 which was big bucks in those days. When he got on the bus he always brought the driver either a piece of fruit or some baked goody. Nice man. I read years ago where he had passed away. Used to be lots of bookie places in the city. I used to eat lunch downtown at Wanda's coffee shop in the 60's. Her boyfriend Sam, the taxi man used to take book for Vernon Downs races. Do you remember him? He was a great big Polish guy and ran had a cab service.

Helen that ran the newstand by Marine Midland also ran a book for a long time. Vernon Downs was in it's prime back then and everybody went to the races. I can't believe the place has died down like it has. OTB did it in.

[bobbbiez]

lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not just on the horses but everything one could possibly take a wager on. If they got bored, they'd bet on who would be the next person to walk into the restaurant. ;D
Actually, I think the only sport they didn't book on was hockey.

Hey, they're still booking strong. After all, the bookie's have a better pay out then OTB.

I probably do know Freeman and Sam. Just can't put the names with the faces. The memory isn't THAT great my friend.

[jon hynes]

Sandwiched between the Uptown Theater and Dandee Doughnuts on Genesee Street was Bucky's Lunch. They stayed open late or all night on weekends. Our group would always, when asked what we wanted, ask for Chicken Fat and mayonnaise sandwiches. Finally one day we noticed a sign in the window Chicken Fat and mayonnaise sandwiches. We never asked for them again in fear that he would remember who had been asking for them.

[jon hynes]

Dec 6, 2008 16:03:09 GMT -5 Clipper said:

Helen that ran the newstand by Marine Midland also ran a book for a long time.

Helen Hoffman (the one that lived on Pleasant Street not the Helen Hoffman on Erie Street) sold more newspapers than all the Utica dealers put together. People would drive up to her stand and she would hand them their papers. Usually telling her to keep the change. She was dressed in rags and people felt sorry for her. She was located across the street on the North side of Columbia St where she had been for 50 years. She had been threatened by Marine Midland after they were investing the millions of dollars to remodel their bank to make her move because they considered her and her stand an eyesore. In recourse she threatened to take her money out of their bank. She was allowed to set up across the street until eventually the Dept of Codes Enforcement brought the DPW in to demolish her stand and hall it to the dump in January 3 1973.

[Clipper]

I knew both Helen Hoffmans. I knew the news dealer from buying my paper from her everyday while I worked at Jeffery Hardware while in college, and I later lived next door to Helen Hoffman on Erie St. (actually I lived on Parker St. but my garage was next to there house on Erie. One of my fathers cousins was married to a Hoffman from Erie St. She and I were good "buddies" when I lived there. I used to shovel her sidewalk for her sometimes and then have coffee with her and her sister.