Introduction
Bill’s Cafe was founded in the late 1930s by William Grams and operated at 2079 Federal Street through at least 1947. Tom Agin, who grew up on nearby Cooper Street, recalled:
Prior to 1938 or ’39 there were only three businesses between State Street and 21st Street on Federal. On the State Street corner was the Black Cat Diner. Then a large building which was Glitsch’s Butcher Shop. I remember it well. It had inches of sawdust on the floor and carcasses hanging around on hooks and some big butcher block tables. Attached to Glitsch’s on the 21st Street side was a small building no larger than a one-car garage. This small shack was Bill Grams’ Tobacco, Soda and News Stand. Between Grams and the corner of 21st Street was a two-story high billboard that I used to climb. All of a sudden the butcher shop became a bar, and Bill Gram was the owner. During the war the bartender was Charley Kane.
Conrad Glitsch came to America from Germany around 1890. By 1919 he was operating a store and living with wife Bertha and their children at 37 North 21st Street. Bill’s Cafe had a liquor license by June of 1939. Both Conrad Glitsch and William Grams are listed as being involved in the tavern at 2079 Federal Street in the 1940 Camden City Directory. Conrad Glitsch is not listed in the 1943 and 1947 Directories.