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A Century Old Classic Italian With TV and Mafia Panache
& why it made the Carpe City list
John’s is full of memorabilia, but one of the most significant relics is the massive, castle-like candle that looms large in the back of the dimly-lit restaurant. According to the owner, during Prohibition, the candle resided in the front window and would be blown out when cops were coming. The candle served as a harbinger that alerted those in the back of the restaurant, which was also a speakeasy. As an homage to those speakeasy days, John’s has continued to light the candle every day since the repeal of Prohibition.
Joe Masseria was a lucky mobster (well, at least until “Lucky” got to him). He literally dodged bullets from a hit ordered by his nemesis Umberto Valenti who worked for a famous big-wig mob boss named Toto De Aquila. Masseria plotted his revenge and invited Valenti for a meal at John’s of 12thSt under the guise of a peace treaty. As Valenti emerged from John’s, two of Masseria’s henchmen, Charles “Lucky” Luciano and Vito Genovese, approached and shot Valenti dead. Lucky got a promotion and Masseria set his sights on a takeover of Toto De Aquila’s business. Joe Masseria eventually did become the big boss but then met with his unfortunate demise from a hit ordered by his protégé, Lucky Luciano.
Kelly McDermott
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