Old
CHESTER
in Delaware County, PA
OldChesterPa.com: Bars
On the
web since March 2000!
Always check our
"What's
New" page
Have you signed our Guest Book at "The Newsstand"?
A project of the National Heritage Foundation
What is this Foundation?
I'd
like to make a donation to help support this website!
Home > Businesses > Bars
FEATURED PICTURE
Morianni's Bar
photos courtesy of
Michele Denesowicz Williams
Would you like to sponsor this page?
|
Contacting me: - Update I
have temporarily cleared a small amount of space in my email box.
However, spam continues to be a problem. To be sure you get through the
filters, be sure to include the name of our city somewhere either
in the subject or the body of your email. Sponsor |
SEARCH the website - Thousands of pages of Chester History!
| Picture | Business Name | Location | Owner/Operator | Dates of Operation | Comments: |
|
|
31 Bar | 9th & Booth St. (next to Penn Fruit) | c. 1954 - ? | "Known
as 'The World's Longest Bar', originally built as a theatre."
Thanks to |
|
| 501 Bar | Thanks to Thomas McKniff, Sr. Ron3597@aol.com |
||||
| 520 Bar | 5th
& Edgmont Ave. (next to Sears) |
Morton "Rosie" Rosenberg | 1950's - very early 1960's | "My
dad, "Rosie", owned the 520 Bar @ 5th and Edgmont next to Sears
downtown in the 50's and very early 60's. I spent hundreds of hours
growing up in there and still remember every name and every face. I have
wonderful memories of growing up in a wonderful, thriving town. I received
a real education as a teenager working for John
McGovern in his men's store and talking with Mr. McGovern for hours
about business and life. I would not have traded it for the world."
Thanks to According to his obituary, Mr. Rosenberg was also later a bartender at the Colony Hotel. |
|
| 1631 Bar | 1631 W. 3rd St. | Henry Tyler -
"Mr. T"
(d. 10/31/1982) |
Late '60's - 10/31/1982 | Henry Tyler owned and operated three bars in the city from the late 60's to 10/31/1982, the day of his passing. 1631 BAR located at 1631 W. 3rd Street MR. T'S INC. located at 900 Central Ave. TYLER & SONS located at 1833 W. 3rd Street Thanks to Kevin Tyler |
|
| Al Porter's Gold Room | 520 Edgmont Ave. | E. Keith & Frances Johnson | November 1982 - Present | "Established
by Alton Porter, a popular bartender throughout the city, a community activist who loved
to sing his favorite tune, 'I Gotta Go'" Thanks to E. Keith Johnson, apgoldroom1@verizon.net |
|
| Andy's Musical Bar | 3rd & Palmer St. (5) | ||||
| Bank Tavern | 3rd & Highland Ave. (1) | ||||
| Bel Aire Bar | 2nd & Pennell St. | ? - 1977 - ? | |||
| Berky's Bar | 7th & Penn St. | "Berky
sold this bar and opened the Media Inn." Thanks to |
|||
| Bill's Tavern | 3rd & Thurlow | Wasyn (Bill) & Kathryn Petryk | c. 1979 or 1980 - April 1981 | Formerly M&E's "My parents bought it from Mike & Elsie Krewerooka (Not the correct spelling). My father was killed there April 1, 1981 while working. A robbery attempt." Thanks to |
|
| Billy Ritchie's Musical Bar | 823 Morton Ave | Richard Henry McGonigal & son William McGonigal. | "Billie Ritchie's real name was Richard Henry Mcgonigal. His son William McGonigal managed Billy Ritchies and then purchased the Black Duck in 1971 changing it's name to the "Fun House" then to "Moby Dicks"(crab restaurant). Bill Mcgonigal sr. now lives in North Myrtle Beach South Carolina now with his wife Barbara, 2- sons William Jr. and Sean. He owns the
Best Western Ocean Sands
Resort." Thanks to Sean McGonigal |
||
| Blackie's Bar | Lloyd St. between 8th & 9th | Thanks
to Brian McClay, uscolt45@aol.com |
|||
| Bonner's Tavern | End
of Highland Ave. & Bethel Rd.
(next to C. K. Seidman's Drug Store) 2215 Green St. |
Kitty
& Joe Bonner
Nick Emper Bob & Rose Crowther (since July 1997) |
"My
parents, Kitty and Joe Bonner, owned the tavern for 50 years before
retiring. Some might remember my mom's homemade crabcakes which brought
customers in from all over on a Friday nite. My dad sold the license to the bar and his name and the bar is in a different building but has kept the name." Thanks to: "Bonner's Tavern is located at 2215 Green St, The person that purchased Bonner's from Kitty and Joe was Nick Emper. The location where the bar is located is the former residence of the Mo Seidman Family. The downstairs portion of the house was completely redone. Bonner's Tavern is currently owned by Bob and Rose Crowther, who purchased it in July of 1997." Thanks to: |
||
| Bridge Cafe | 9th St. at Chester Creek | ||||
| Bridge Grille | 3rd St. | Punch Heyburn | "I have many great memories of the Bridge Grille on 3rd Street as I waited tables there as a young teen. Punch Heyburn owned the place and my grandmother was the cook." Thanks to Darlene Moore Delany |
||
| Brownie's Bar | 10th & Booth St. | Thanks to Thomas McKniff, Sr. Ron3597@aol.com |
|||
| Bullock's Bar | 128/130 W. 5th St. (?) | Harold Bullock | ? - c. 1970 | "The bar
was owned by Harold Bullock and was located at, I believe, 128 /130 W. 5th Street and went out of business about the time of the 1970 flood. It was originally called
Mortimers but became Bullock's Bar after the death of "Patty" Mortimer and the marriage of his widow Margeret to Harold."
Thanks to |
|
| Bullpen | |||||
| Broomall | |||||
| Chrishanti's (sp?) | Rose & Madison St. | Bud Chrishanti | ? - 1960;s - early 1970's - ? | "I know of this bar because my dad was “regular” there and I knew the owner. The bar’s name was called ‘chrishanti’s
(sp?) I am not sure of the spelling, but it was the owners last name, his first name as I knew it was Bud. Bud Chrishanti’s was located on the corner of Rose st, and Madison st. This was during the 60’s early 70’s." Thanks to Greg Kerrigan |
|
|
|
City Hotel | 7th & Welsh St. | |||
| City Grille | 10th St. | Sam Ruban / Rubin | "Sam
Ruban/Rubin also owned a Steakhouse
on Welsh St." Thanks to Pooch09@aol.com |
||
| Cohee's | Among bartenders was Francis J. (Midge) Ferrigan [Obituary & Photo] | ||||
| Colonna's | Among bartenders was Francis J. (Midge) Ferrigan [Obituary & Photo] | ||||
| Columbia | 3rd & Wilson | "I
was there the night before I got married and almost missed the wedding." Thanks to Leigh, |
|||
| David's Bar / Re-David's | 9th & Morton Ave. | Thanks to Pooch09@aol.com |
|||
| Eagle Grille | 7th & Deshong, across from Miller's | Jim
Heacock, Mae Heacock |
"My
uncle, Jim Heacock, owned the Eagle Grill at 7th and Deshong for many years. When he died,
my Aunt Mae Heacock ran the bar until she passed away some 20 years ago." Thanks to Norm Zoumas, nzoumas@gateway.net "On the opposite corner from the Grille was the FOE, Fraternal Order of Eagles which was a very popular spot that had a pool table, 2 regulation shuffleboards and 2 duck pin bowling alleys. My dad was very involved there and I spent a lot of time there with him, mom, brother & sis. My brother and I grew up setting pins there till we moved on to the bigger lanes." Thanks to L. Doyle, ldoyle@amergenenergy.com |
||
| Eddie's Cafe | Sun Village | A poem about Eddie's Cafe written by Mary Ann Poist | |||
| Eddystone Bar & Hotel | 6th & Morton Ave. | "It
was a musical bar."
Thanks to |
|||
| Fletcher's Bar | 2nd & Highland Ave. | Jack
Chambers remembers a bar at this location. Can anyone help with its name? 8/13/2001: |
|||
| Gateway | 9th & Highland
Ave.
(2813 W. 9th St.) |
Harry & Elsie Marin | ? - 1952 - ? | "My
sister and brother-in-law owned and operated the "Gateway". It was before
motorcycle clubs were heard of. It was a very popular musical bar during the war. They had
a microphone that they passed around around the bar so the customers could do their act.
Everybody was a star." Thanks
to Ruth Carney, |
|
| Hit Bar | 3rd & Market St. | Thanks to Shirley Wilhere, Shirl338@rcn.com |
|||
| Johnny's Bar aka "The Halfway House" aka "The Library" |
15th & Shaw
Terrace, (right up from Crozer Hospital) |
"I
also remember at 15th & Shaw Terrace just up the street from Crozer Hospital was bar
named John's. Some called it the Halfway House and others called it The Library." Thanks to George Patterson, "Don't
have any history on it except it was a family type bar and had all it regulars. You could
go there and get a tooth pulled if you had the nerve, but of course if you didn't you just
took a couple stiff shots and then you said go ahead. There was an apartment over the top
which I think may have housed a couple of families." |
|||
|
|
Johnson Tavern | Edgmont Ave. above 3rd St. | Jacob
Howell (abt. 1733)
Samuel Johnson (1784 - ?) |
Erected by Jacob Howell about 1733, bought by Samuel Johnson in 1784 and given a license for a public house. | |
| Keenan's Musical Bar | 103 W. 3rd St. | Joe & Velma Keenan | c. 1938 - c. 1960 | "Keenan's
Musical Bar was located at 103 W. 3rd St. It was owned and operated by my
mother and father, Joe and Velma Keenan. It was opened approx. 1938 until
approx. 1960 when it was bought by the city and torn down. Nan Jones was
the organist there for many years."
Thanks to Jean Keenan Shank, |
|
| Kelly's Bar | 7th & Lloyd | Thanks
to Brian McClay, uscolt45@aol.com |
|||
| Knaff's Bar | 7th & Pusey | "Great
clams casino"
Thanks to Brian McClay, |
|||
| Lafayette Bar & Grille | 3rd & Market St. | "Owned
by the Manentes or the Bear who also later owned the R AND S Club in Woodlyn." Thanks to |
|||
| Larkin House | 7th & Potter St. | Thanks to Shirley Wilhere, Shirl338@rcn.com |
|||
| Larry's Cocktail Lounge | 9th & Welsh St. | c. 1947 - ? | Thanks to Shirley Wilhere, Shirl338@rcn.com |
||
Liberty Bar |
Liberty | 1810 West 3rd St. | Joe Mignogna | 1946 - 1960 | "...it
is no longer there because it was torn down so that the Comm Barry Bridge could be built. Now I know
the Liberty Bar's address because my Dad, Joe Mignogna owned it from about 1946 to
1960. It was a popular spot "back in the day". I spent many Sundays
there with him (closed on Sunday) when he was cleaning. I probably can find a
picture and scan it and send to you. Also
have pictures of my Dad and the famous Budweiser Clydesdales when they came to Chester.
Will find that picture as well/" Thanks
to: |
| McCloskey's | |||||
| Madison Grille | 12th & Madison (1) | John & Gerry Tkatz | |||
| Mal-Tone | 9th & Morton Ave. | Thanks to Shirley Wilhere, Shirl338@rcn.com |
|||
| Marine Bar | 4th St. | Thanks to Pooch09@aol.com |
|||
| Mark's Bar | 719 Hinkson St. | Ted Mark & Joe Mark | c. 1930's - 1974 | "It was a small neighborhood bar at 719 Hinkson Street, except for summers, when it became a "must go" place for people from all over to eat Uncle Joe's crabs. My grandfather started it as a grocery store sometime in the 20's, turned it into a bar sometime in the 30's, and it was run by my dad Ted Mark and uncle Joe Mark until it closed in 1974. Don't know if anyone is living there now, but the aluminum front facade still has the "Mark's" sign on it. It can't come down without taking the whole facade off." Thanks to Mary Ann Mark Custer |
|
| Mazza's | |||||
| M & E's Tavern | 3rd & Thurlow | Mike & Elsie Krewerooka (sp?) | ? - c. 1979 or 1980 | Around 1979 or 1980, became Bill's Tavern | |
| Minnetti's Bar | |||||
| Moran's Bar | 11th & Upland | John
P. Moran
Other known employees: Lillian McIntyre Starkey |
"My mother (Lillian McIntyre Starkey) worked for John Moran as a waitress (and cook) for about 10 years. Haven't lived in Chester for 40 years so can't remember if it was 10th or 11th and Upland."
Thanks to "Moran's Bar is definitely located at 11th and Upland, The building is boarded up, but the rusted frame of the sign is still there, but the sign is gone." Thanks to |
||
|
|
Morianni's Bar | 1965 - ? | "A
ship yard staple. Cash your check, drink, eat and (well) sleep the night away if
necessary." Thanks to |
||
| Mortimer's Bar | 128/130 W. 5th St. (?) | "Patty" Mortimer | ? - before 1970 | "The bar
was owned by Harold Bullock and was located at, I believe, 128 /130 W. 5th Street and went out of business about the time of the 1970 flood. It was originally called Mortimers but became
Bullock's Bar after the death of "Patty" Mortimer and the marriage of his widow Margeret to Harold."
Thanks to |
|
| Mr. T's, Inc. | 900 Central Ave. | Henry
Tyler - "Mr. T"
(d. 10/31/1982) |
Late '60's - 10/31/1982 | Henry Tyler owned and operated three bars in the city from the late 60's to 10/31/1982, the day of his passing. 1631 BAR located at 1631 W. 3rd Street MR. T'S INC. located at 900 Central Ave. TYLER & SONS located at 1833 W. 3rd Street Thanks to Kevin Tyler |
|
| Murphy's Bar | 6th & Welsh St. | Pat Murphy | ? - 1973 - ? | ||
| Jeffries Bar | 7th & Market | Thanks to Thomas McKniff, Sr. Ron3597@aol.com |
|||
| Madison Tavern | 3rd & Madison | Thanks to Shirley Wilhere, Shirl338@rcn.com |
|||
| Marine Bar | 6th St. (just down from Moriannis) |
"A Sun Ship staple, a way of life." Thanks to |
|||
| Joe Miller's | 7th St. between Crosby & Deshong on the south side | Thanks to
L. Doyle, ldoyle@amergenenergy.com
"I went to St. Mike's with the son of the owner of Miller's Bar on the south side of 7th St. between Crosby and Deshong St. The son is now Msgr. John Miller, pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Church in Fairless Hill, Pa." Thanks to |
|||
| Moonglow | |||||
| Palm Gardens | Avenue of the States, downstairs in a basement | Thanks to Dottygreg@aol.com for this addition! | |||
| Pete Family Bar | 703 Wilson St. (7th & Wilson) | Peter Krasowski (until 1961) Louise & Elmer Hebster (1961-c. 1992) |
"I
do remember 3rd street from Trainer to east end of town having 2-3 bars each corner, as
well as thru out the block." Pete Krasowski, grandson, silverdime@aol.com |
||
| Phil's Cozy Corner | 12th & Edgmont | "There
used to be a little store where Phil's Cozy Corner was. This was way back,
it was like a mini grocery store. I'm pretty sure it was called Joe's.
I was a little girl and I remember going in and thought it was strange
that they sold hard boiled eggs among many things. This was a couple of
doors down from Macs on 14th & Edgmont."
Thanks to |
|||
| Re-David's | 9th & Morton Ave. | Thanks to Dave Gluck, |
|||
| Renda's | |||||
| Rube's (see West End Cafe) |
9th & Keystone (across from Vesuvio's) |
Rube Elpaso | -Thanks to
Joe O'Donnell, Newark, DE, formerly of Pine Lane in Buckman Village JROD4857@aol.com |
||
| Sam Ruben's | Among bartenders was Francis J. (Midge) Ferrigan [Obituary & Photo] | ||||
| Sbandi's Tavern | 9th & Keystone Rd. | Frank & Mary Sbandi and later son Albert | -Thanks to
Joe O'Donnell, Newark, DE, formerly of Pine Lane in Buckman Village JROD4857@aol.com "Sbandi's is probably the only one open [of Sunnyside, Village Cafe & Sbandi's] & that's questionable. Last I heard, their son Albert was running it, but that's been a while back." Thanks to |
||
| Seven Seas | "My grandparents Patrick and Annie (nee Spellman) Mcnicholas owned and operated a business called seven seas." Thanks to John McNicholas Palmdale, CA |
||||
| Simmons Cafe | 3rd St. (a couple of doors down from the Bridge Cafe) |
Anthony Simmons | "My
grandfather owned the Simmons Cafe on third street. It was a couple of doors down
from the Bridge Cafe. This was probably 45 years or so ago. My grandfathers name was
Anthony Simmons, there was a pool table in the back and my grandmother ran the kitchen.
They had a good lunch crowd from the ship yard. Later my father, John Simmons Sr.,
operated The Simmons Cafe on fifth street across from Sears in the
triangle, in town." Thanks to Pat
Palmatter, |
||
| Simmons Cafe | 5th St. (across from Sears in the triangle) |
John Simmons Sr. | Thanks to
Pat Palmatter, patmommom@rcn.com |
||
| Sloppy Joe's | 6th & Harwick, NW corner
|
||||
| Spaghetti Jack's | 2nd & Highland Ave. | ? - 1970's - ? | Thanks to Pooch09@aol.com |
||
| Sportsman Bar | 5th & Penn St. | ? - 1952 - ? | Thanks to Shirley Wilhere, Shirl338@rcn.com |
||
|
|
Steve's Bar | W. 3rd St. (3215 W. 3rd?) | Steve Urban | Now
Stanley's Bar
Thanks to |
|
| Sunnyside Inn | 9th & Clover Lane | The Matty Brothers | "Sunnyside
goes way back when I was a kid, during & after WW2" Thanks to Mike Mangan MANGAN0521@aol.com |
||
| Sunset Cafe | Sun Village | Thanks to Shirley Wilhere, Shirl338@rcn.com |
|||
| Sun Village Cafe | 1100 block of Morton Ave. | Thanks to
Pat, vis12321@home.com |
|||
| Tony's Bar | Near 14th & Providence Ave. | "We
used to sing around Tony's bar around 14th and Prov. Someone was always singing." Thanks to |
|||
| Tony's Cafe | 7th & Caldwell St. | Tony & ? Chiponis | Thanks to Dorothy (Trush) Suda, ron515@netzero.net |
||
| Top Hat | 9th St. near Engle | ? - 1940's - 1950's - ? | "I
really don't know too much about it but do remember a sign with a girl
wearing a tux with a large top hat."
Thanks to |
||
| Transit Bar | 814 W. 2nd St. | Joseph DiMeglio | ? - 1952 - ? | ||
| Tyler & Sons | 1833 W. 3rd St. | Henry
Tyler - "Mr. T"
(d. 10/31/1982) |
Late '60's - 10/31/1982 | Henry Tyler owned and operated three bars in the city from the late 60's to 10/31/1982, the day of his passing. 1631 BAR located at 1631 W. 3rd Street MR. T'S INC. located at 900 Central Ave. TYLER & SONS located at 1833 W. 3rd Street Thanks to Kevin Tyler |
|
| Upton's Bar & Restaurant | Egmont Ave. (across from Southern Penn Bus Barn) |
"My
Mother Myrtle Crystle was the waitress there for many years. One bartender Ralph Callaway
and Mr. Harry Upton (young Harry as he was called) used to play me Shuffle Board all the
time when I used to walk my mom to work." Thanks to |
|||
| Village Cafe | 9th & Keystone Rd. | George (Rube) ElPaso & Mike Borsick | Thanks to Mike Mangan MANGAN0521@aol.com |
||
| Walio's Frog Pond | 1601 Providence Ave. | Anthony
"Tony" Lucci (c. 1962 - retired 1993). died 9/22/2004
Martha J. Dagenhart, a former owner, died 5/20/2003 at age 69. |
"The
original Frog Pond was at 17th st., a alley separated them and a barber
shop. There was a gate to Smedly's
field at the end. As I recall it may have been larger but the building in
bad shape."
Thanks to |
||
| Ward Bar &
Grille (5) |
3rd & Ward Sts. | ||||
| West End Cafe, aka Rube's | 9th & Keystone (across from Vesuvio's) |
Rube Elpaso | -Thanks to
Joe O'Donnell, Newark, DE, formerly of Pine Lane in Buckman Village JROD4857@aol.com |
||
| Wilson Hotel & Bar | 2nd & Wilson Sts. | - 1974 - | |||
| Wright's Bar | 9th & Edgmont (next to Firestone) | Thanks to L. Doyle, ldoyle@amergenenergy.com |
