Top 40 Erie Cafes in 1959

Old Time Erie Cafes in 1959.

Cafe, tavern, pub, club, bar, beer garden, saloon. Why so many different names? It's a mystery to me. One thing I do know is that the term 'Cafe' seems to have all but disappeared from the Erie telephone book in relation to a retail establishment that has a license to sell liquor and beer.

Ice cold Koehler's, anyone? Back in 1959, there was a whole column of cafes in the phone book, mainly on the east side of Erie, PA. There were 28 on the east side and 13 on the west side. Seven of the establishments were on Parade Street. Five cafes were located within a six-block radius (Bruno's, Golden Goose, Krakow, Merski's and Warsaw). Quite a few were still in existence in the late 70s and early 80s.

Keep in mind that this list only includes cafes. No taverns, pubs, clubs, bars or beer gardens. I wonder how many liquor licenses were issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1959. 

How many cafes do you recognize from this list?

Enjoy more fun and fascinating historical facts about Erie PA at: Old Time Erie