Santoro's Cafe, 1935

Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department (Wakefield, Mass.) · 1935

"Santoro's Cafe (as spelled by the establishment) at 502-504 Main Street in 'lower' Wakefield Square, opened in mid-1934 as a 'clean and orderly establishment,' a place where a man could bring his wife, sweetheart, or sister. In January, 1935, proprietor Michael Santoro took over the adjoining store, made it a 'neat, clean and attractive' annex with 12 cozy booths, one of which was big enough to accommodate 10 to 15 people. This annex was reserved solely for ladies, and was decorated in a tropical theme with soft colored lights, palm trees, beautiful wall paintings, a smooth dance floor and a melodious three piece orchestra. The caf??, which opened just one year after the repeal of Prohibition, advertised that all drinks were properly mixed by an expert bartender and all liquor regulations were observed." - Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Donofrio. Image from the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department annual calendar, 2007 Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Daily Item.