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

Amity Inn Bar With Neon Koehler Beer Sign

Amity Inn photo courtesy of Tom DiLuzio.

The Amity Inn on West 26th Street in Erie, PA had a pretty cool bar setup in 1943, as you can see in this photo. The most impressive feature was a neon Koehler Beer sign hanging right in the center, above a nice display of flags from around the world. Look to the right and you'll see an antique blade fan on top of an old oak refrigerator with glass doors. Some of the other features in the picture include a Calvert calendar, a Planters Salted Peanuts display, bags of popcorn and beef jerky, and a nice, shiny bar. There is a wide assortment of liquor on display, including bottles of Union Town and lots of other names that are too small to decipher. 

Joseph Ferraro owned the Amity Inn, which was located at 1334 West 26th Street in Erie. Guy Lombardo had dinner there in 1946.

Enjoy more historic facts and photos of Erie, PA at: Old Time Erie

Crazy Horse Saloon 6th and French Erie PA

Crazy Horse Saloon photo by Chester Wasielewski. ©2012 Debbi Lyon.

The Crazy Horse Saloon sat on the northeast corner of E. 6th and French Street in Erie, PA. According to Tom Weber, "The building with the white columns...was once known as the P.A. Becker Building. At the time of its demolition in the 1980s, it was known as the Crazy Horse Saloon. Four of the iron pillars were preserved and stand in front of the Erie Insurance headquarters at E. 6th and French."

You could the Crazy Horse Saloon as you left the old Public Library at Perry Square. Erie Insurance currently occupies this corner.