1938: THE LEGENDARY CASA LIDO ON SO. WARREN STREET

This splendid view of SouthWwarren Street bring back many warm memories. Note that Capitol Motors is also on the immediate right in the photo, before they moved to that ultra modern circularly constructed show room on So. Broad street near the Roebling complex.

1933: A 1933: A REPEAT AT THE REQUEST OF JACK MORRISON

Jack visited Facebook and saw that someone borrowed this graphic that I posted a few months ago from two different graphics. He wondered if I still had it in my files. He asked that I republish it so he could download it for his scrapbook. Jack was a regular visitor to the famous Trenton landmark. Here she is, Jack, all pristine and pretty. Thanks for visiting; I hope you return often.

1933: THE LEGENDARY CASA LIDO

In its heyday, the Casa Lido was the "IN" spot for local visitors to downtown Trenton. The earliest material I can find on that old Italian restaurant begins in 1933. Hence, until someone more informed corrects me, I will assume that the year 1933 marked the opening of that famous restaurant with the equally famous art deco "CASA LIDO" sign. As we all know, Trenton went through social unrest and rioting in the 1960's and the Trenton I knew and loved began a downward plunge, due not only to the urban problems, but due also to the fact that the malls were popping up all over the area and parking was never a problem as it always has been in the city of Trenton. Going back to Colonial times roads and streets were narrowly laid out. There will always be those of us who love the city of Trenton, and there is currently an attempt to bring back that South Warren Street stretch into a viable stop over. In the 1970's, that beautiful art deco "CASA LIDO" sign was removed and the proprietors of "MAXINE'S" tastefully re-identified the establishment with their version of art deco. Unfortunately those early Maxine years were fraught with problems as anti gay bigots made life miserable for management. Today, Maxine's, Classics Used Books, http://www.classicsusedbooks.com, along with many other gutsy merchants, are valiantly attempting to keep the South Warren Street historical legacy alive. Now, if only some of those state workers would crowd the area for a lunch hour or so each day, they would have an enormous impact on the successful revival of a historic and fabulous stretch of historic Trenton. I wish them well and appreciate their zealous community efforts. The graphic includes a cut and paste of the Classic Book Store on South Warren Street.

This from the Classic Used Books website:

Warren Street

Classics Used and Rare Books on Warren Street has great neighbors. Visit them while you visit us!

• The Big Easy–great food, across the street
• Cafe Ole–gourmet coffee, casual, across the street
• Checkers–best burger, casual, just up the street
• Hummingbird–authentic Jamaican cuisine, casual, just up the street
• The New Downtown Deli–generous portions, reasonable prices, casual. Right accross the street from Classics.
• The Trenton Marriott–around the corner on Lafayette
• Rainbowtown–Chinese food, casual, next door
• Settimo Cielo–Northern Italian Cuisine, fine dining, just around the corner
• State Barber Shop–the mayor of Warren Street, directly across the street
• Subway–right up the street next to Messy Klossetts
• Sunrise Luncheonette–traditional American fare, across the street towards State Street

1933: THE CASA LIDO-A CITY OF TRENTON LEGEND

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM....AS I RECALL, THE PONTANI FAMILY ALSO OWNED THE LIQUOR STORE ON HAMILTON AVENUE NEAR CHAMBERS FOR QUIT SOME TIME. REGARDS.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Omad said...

Is this the same liquor store owned by the Lucidis in the
1940s? They were three doors down from our restaurant.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Anonymous said...

I just assumed that such names were associated with the town from which the family had it's origins, perhaps a coastal fishing village? Or, perhaps to give a simple place in Trenton some "zing" or flair. As a kid I was always puzzled that the Hudson Beer Garden was nothing like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Where were the toga draped young ladies playing harps amid trays of grapes, figs and other exotic fruit?

Ed Millerick

Saturday, June 23, 2012

omad said...

LOL Ed

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Anonymous said...

Tom:

Descendants of the Pontani family might be able to tell you the origin. The Pontani brothers run a Jewelry store at five points in Mercervill where the old Exxon Station was.

Regrards

Mike Kuzma

Saturday, June 23, 2012

The Pontani family brought their exquisite Italian cuisine to center city Trenton ad immediately found that the new restaurant found favor with citizens from far and near. As the success piled on, the restaurant hosted many local service clubs, civic associations, and just plain citizens. Local talent also found a performing audience at the late great Casa Lido. I would be interested to learn why they chose "beach house" as the name of the restaurant, given the fact that the nearest beach to Trenton is some 35 or 40 miles east.