Introduction
The Arcadia Cafe stood at 201 Federal Street, at the northeast corner of North Second and Federal Streets, and was a popular spot in Camden for many years. During the Prohibition years, William and Sophia Siobodzian ran the bar. Harold Clark acquired it and operated it as the Club Royal in 1935 and 1936. He lost the bar, which reopened in 1936 as the Arcadia Cafe, under the stewardship of Fannie Mazer and her family. By 1947 the establishment had gone non-alcoholic, and operated as the Veteran’s Restaurant.
3 Camden Cafes Are Closed by U. S. Court
Camden Courier-Post —
Bronx, Arcadia and Kenney’s Ordered Closed by Montana Judge
Runnemede Roadhouse Also Comes Under Ban
‘Soft Drink’ Emporiums Sold Illegal Beer, Federal Agents Charged
Three of Camden’s most popular cafes and a Runnemede roadhouse, described on the permits as “soft drink establishments” but known otherwise to thousands of South Jersey and Philadelphia thirsty, were ordered padlocked yesterday.
The establishments are: “Tom” Kenney’s Bridge Cafe, 100 Pearl Street, the Bronx Cafe, 29 North Third Street, the Arcadia Cafe, 201 Federal Street, and the Marland Club, Black Horse Pike, Runnemede.
The padlocks were ordered in Trenton by Federal Judge George Bourquin.
The four places were raided several months ago by federal agents and the padlocks were ordered on the strength of “beerometer” tests made on the premises which disclosed the “soft drinks” were of illegal alcoholic content. Such tests recently were declared legal by Bourquin.
Owners or operators of the establishments are listed in the orders as follows: Bridge Cafe, Thomas J. Kenney, John A. Smith and Charles H. Schwab; the Bronx Cafe, Thomas J. Boland and Florence Scannell; the Arcadia Cafe, William and Sophia Siobodzian, and the Marland Club, Edward Smith and Gottlieb Mayer, president of the Camden German Maennerchor.
An attempt to rob the Kenney Cafe last May 24 failed when police shot and killed Felix Zubelski, 18, of 1039 Diamond street, and wounded Joseph Linkowski, 21, of 1226 Chestnut Street, as they attempted to escape.
Judge Bourquin, who presides over the Montana circuit, was ordered to New Jersey in July to aid the state judge in clearing the crowded court dockets.
License to Cafe Will Be Appealed
Camden Courier-Post —
Beverage Dealers Association to Aid Fight Against Club Royal Permit
The granting of a liquor license to Mrs. Fannie Mazer, of 319 Broadway, for the Club Royal, 201 Federal street, will be appealed today by Mrs. Freda Beringer, 200 Federal street, and the Camden County Unit of the New Jersey Retail Beverage Dealers’ Association.
That was revealed last night by Harry M. Mendell, counsel for Mrs. Beringer and the liquor dealers. The license was granted on July 27 by the Camden Municipal Board of Alcoholic Beveral Control.
Mendell said a notice of intention to appeal the granting of the license will be filed today at Newark with D. Frederick Burnett, state commissioner of alcoholic beverage control.
Mendell said the granting of the license is being appealed because it granted “illegally” by the Camden board.
Cites License Limit
“We are appealing the granting of the license because the local alcoholic control board passed an ordinance on July 9 limiting the number of retail consumption licenses to 200,” Mendell said. “The board had already granted 208 licenses on July 1 and the license given Mrs. Mazer is the 209th.
“We are also appealing to Commissioner Burnett because the license was approved on July 27, three days before the second notice of intention was published in newspapers as required by law. The records of the city clerk’s office show Mrs. Mazer paid $464.33 for a license on July 23, on which date she published her first notice of intention.
“The board approved the license on July 27 and the second notice of intention was not published until July 30. The law requires that the license cannot be granted until the second notice of intention is published.
Action Held Illegal
“We contend that no one had time to file an objection against granting the license. The whole procedure was outside the scope of the law. We are appealing to compel the alcoholic control board to comply with the law.”
Mrs. Beringer is proprietor of a cafe at the southeast corner of Second and Federal streets directly opposite the Club Royal, which was formerly operated by Harold Clark. Clark was found guilty of selling liquor on Sundays by the Camden alcoholic control board on May 13 and his license suspended two weeks. He was acquitted of selling liquor after closing hours by Judge Lewis Liberman on January 23.
Inspector John V. Wilkie and City Detective Gus Fortune arrested Clark on both occasions. Clark failed to apply on July 1 for a renewal of his license.