Contacting me: - Update

I have temporarily cleared a small amount of space in my email box. However, spam continues to be a problem. To be sure you get through the filters, be sure to include the name of our city somewhere either in the subject or the body of your email.
You can contact me by phone. Follow this link for phone number.  -John

Sponsor
"Today in Chester's History" on "The Newsstand"
(Only 5.00 per day)

(across from the Chester Transportation Center)

Thanks to
Craig Rainey 

"The original store was on 7th St. about three doors North of Morton Ave, it was only a couple of doors away from the taproom on the corner, I believe it was Riddles Cafe."

Alfonso Latini

Thanks to
Pooch09@aol.com 

Thanks to
Marie (DeSantis) Zinsmayer

Photo courtesy of Bill Webster, New York, NY

The Moses had also previously owned a sub shop at 10th & Central, a market at 12th & Morton, and a third business at 11th & Parker St.

1970's photo courtesy of Fran Farrar, San Diego, CA

Ridley Township

Thanks to their ad in the 1917 Chester High annual, courtesy of Janet Andrews Moulder, Wilmington, DE

Photo courtesy of
Raymond Moseley,
Chester, PA

Thanks to
Thomas McKniff, Sr.
Ron3597@aol.com

Thanks to James Crystle,
j.crystle@worldnet.att.net

Photo courtesy of
Stella J. Brown, granddaughter, Putch3@aol.com
(Click on the thumbnail to see the full-size picture.)

Thanks to Granddaughter, Stella J. Brown, Putch3@aol.com,

Augustine J DiCostanza

DiCostanza's Web Site

History of the Hoagie
and a picture of the DiCostanzas in the original store.

Order online for FedEx overnight shipping!

Thanks to
Augie DiCostanza, grandson of Catherine

Thanks to
Sam Lemon

Click to see the full size picture of the "new"
Edgmont Diner

See pictures of our first ever lunch get-together here at the Edgmont Diner of some of the regular oldchesterpa.com visitors!

after c. 1963 until c. 1966:

9th & Highland Ave.

1963 - c. 1966

Thanks to nephew,
Thomas J. McKniff, Sr.,
Ron3597@aol.com

Pictures of Green Shutters Staff

Courtesy of Rose Marie (Della Monica) Holodick, Wilmington, DE

Thanks to Bill Elman, STEELDAN1@aol.com

Thanks to
Lafenus Billups

Thanks to Jim Owens, grandson, FIREPFD29@aol.com

Photos courtesy of Peter J. Pepe, Jr.

later

Peter J. Pepe, Sr. & Theresa (Palma) Pepe

Thanks to Peter J. Pepe, Jr.

Photos courtesy of
Jody (Mignogna) Pokoy,
blanche78@home.com

(Click on the image above for more pictures of John's Doggie Shop)

George Eleutheriou
(son)

"They used to sell them for 15 cents..."
Fred Ramont,
fredram@pacbell.net

"I remember those Hotdogs and the orange soda like it was yesterday. There was a mute man who worked there who always made me laugh. He had such a sense of humor. My mother took me on the bus from Boothwyn to Chester every Sat."

Linda Williamson Westerside,
klwesterside@erols.com

LaSpada's, Parkside

Also MacDade Blvd., Milmont Park, PA

Thanks to
Timothy

Thanks to James Crystle,
j.crystle@worldnet.att.net

Thanks to
James Crystle
j.crystle@worldnet.att.net 

610-875-6445

John Bullock

Mike's Hoagie Shop
c. 1961
Photo courtesy of Joseph (Sonny) Fusco via his son John Fusco
(Click the image for a larger version)

later

Gene Fusco
(1960-1970)

John LaSpada, owner of LaSpada's Original Steaks & Hoagies (Parkside & Aston, PA) first worked here for Mike.  Mike later sold the business to Gene Fusco.

Thanks to their ad in the 1917 Chester High annual, courtesy of Janet Andrews Moulder, Wilmington, DE

Frank & Laura Collins

later

Mr. & Mrs. Charles Ripka

Thanks to
Earl Pontillo,
epontillo@netzero.net

Click here for an image of this diner in its original location as well as a December 2001 picture from Marcus Hook.

Some known Rainbow Diner employees:

Helen DiMeglio
(was a waitress there when Pearl Harbor was attacked) - Thanks to Gigi339sw@aol.com

This diner was then relocated to 10th & Green St., Marcus Hook and known as the Marcus Hook Diner.

February 2003:
The Marcus Hook Diner has reopened as the "Sungate Diner"

Nick Subashi had previously operated the Bridge Cafe.

Steve Stephano (1952-1964)

Andy Subashi
(1964-1976)

Some known Rainbow Diner employees:

Sara Gaudino

Andy Subashi was also the last owner of the Yellow Bowl.

"My mother and two aunts were waitresses there for years in the 50's.. One of them, SARA GAUDINO later became a partner and went on to have the Candlewick on Rt 202. She and my mom have past on to a better life..."

Thanks to Jack Prettyman, jackp5@earthlink.net

George & Helen Morakis, owners of the Rialto Restaurant.
Photo courtesy of
Maria Calombaris Adamidis, Onewildgrk@aol.com

(Click the picture to see a larger image.)

583 E. 9th St.

Then by
George, Helen and Dimitrios Morakis

Thanks to Maria Calombaris Adamidis, Onewildgrk@aol.com

Thanks to Pooch09@aol.com

Thanks to son,
Thomas J. McKniff, Sr.,
Ron3597@aol.com

later, mid 1970's:

Willowbrook Shopping Center

Thanks to
Lisa Siekierski Maysky,
lisa3531@aol.com

Click to see the full size image of a Shooster's matchbook.

Follow the Shooster's link to see the painting of the restaurant done by the founder's grandson, Stephen Shooster, shoosty@bellsouth.net

Photos c. early 1940's
Courtesy of Alice Madzelan

Clara Madzelan d. January 2005.
(Thanks to Amy K. Madzelan, 8/2006)

Photo c. 1993
Compliments of
Fran Farrar
from San Diego, CA

Thanks to
Maria Sordi Granito,
Cumming, GA

(d. May 17, 2006)

Roy Saunders (Present - 2004)

"Stackeys is still open, and is now owned by my father, Roy Saunders of Coatesville. He has not changed much, except for some building improvements. Some of Stackey's family (through blood and marriage) still help run and manage the shop. Roy's connection is that he is the boyfriend of original Stackey's niece, Carolyn Sabatelli of Media."

Thanks to Alex Saunders

Click for large picture

Photo courtesy of Delaware County Historical Society

(between the State Theatre and Henry's Mens Store)

Thanks to Alice Ritter, Rettira@aol.com

Photo from the 1945 CHS annual, courtesy of Margaret (Minner) Turner, Brookhaven, PA

(Later operated Frank's at 9th & Elsinore)

The Sugarbowl became Mike's Hoagie Shop.

(near Range Temple Holiness Church)

Thanks to
Kim A. Brown, cousin,
kym419@aol.com  

Thanks to
Earl Pontillo,
epontillo@netzero.net

New management team as of 8/15/2006

"Open 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. Daily"

Thanks to Dottie Nazmy, former owner

"They have great food and great people!"

Thanks to
JWstorm2000@aol.com

Thanks to nephew,
Thomas J. McKniff, Sr.,
Ron3597@aol.com

John Morris, Joel Sedars and Charles Seigner plan to convert the Vesuvio's facility plus the adjoining motel and 3 nearby buildings into the Alpha Omega Family House, a recovery center for drug-addicted women and their children.

To help with this project, call 610-485-7039.

Thanks to Dave Hall

"This restaurant referred to was later called Olympic Victory and it was located W 3rd Street just around the corner from Stotter’s Department Store and diagonally across the Street from the Wolf Building. It truly was a “hole in the wall.” I recall being on duty at WVCH (housed in the Wolf Building) sometime in the late 1960’s on a Sunday afternoon when everything else around the area was closed. I asked for a chicken sandwich to take back to the studio with me for my lunch. Well, unbeknown to me, the attendant had taken a half of a breast of chicken with the bones left in and placed it between two slices of bread. Was I surprised when I took a bit into that sandwich! I never went back." 

Thanks to
Robert Bocchino, Haverford, PA

(Click on the thumbnail image to see the larger version)

Photos courtesy of
Terry Redden Peters 

Scan of ash tray courtesy of
Dave Guleke,
Chester, PA

Thanks to
Carol Gilbert,
carol.gilbert@frb.gov

The Yellow Bowl
Picture courtesy of Terry Redden Peters

(Click the picture to see a larger image)

"Delaware County Dinner" from The December 1941
Delaware County Advocate

later

Andy Subashi
(also owner of the Rainbow Diner at 9th & Sproul St.)

Some employees:

Ed Marler, marlere@cs.com,   (Buss boy)

Helen Marler
(thanks to her daughter, Dori Marler, Artdori@aol.com)