Introduction
1447 Broadway was not a bar prior to Prohibition. The building was a private residence at the time of the 1920 Census. A saloon did exist on the opposite corner, at 1451 Broadway, run by Stephen Stefaniak, in existence as late as 1921.
1447 Broadway is listed in the 1931 Camden City Directory as a cafe with Jacob Toner as the proprietor. By 1938 Thomas A. Clark owned the bar, which was known as the Lansdowne Cafe. He operated the bar, which featured food and live entertainment. The Lansdowne was well known for crabs for many years. When Mr. Clark died, his wife took over management of the bar. Around 1959–1960 Joe Greco bought the Lansdowne Cafe and ran it into the mid-1960s.
The Lansdowne Cafe was renamed in the mid-1970s, and was known as the Jewel Box Cafe, and later as the New Jewel Box Cafe. In 1984 Mel Jones bought the property and ran it as the Debonair Lounge until 1988. 1447 Broadway is no longer standing; it was razed in the early 1990s.
Lansdowne Cafe Advertisement
Camden Courier-Post —
My pal “Little Sam” the mahogany gracer at Mr. and Mrs. Clark’s Lansdowne Cafe, located on the corner of Lansdowne avenue and Broadway, tells me that as a special attraction this Friday and Saturday nites they have booked Louise Anderson and her band and an outstanding group of colored entertainers. That should prove real company for their famous southern fried chicken, jumbo shrimp, giant sandwiches and all the other good things from the Lansdowne kitchen.
Remember — this Friday and Saturday evenings — Louise Anderson and Company … an all-star show.