Tony's Grill
The bar at 529 South 6th Street received its license shortly after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933. By 1946 it was known as Tony's Grille, and was owned by partners Marco DiGiamberardino and his nephew, Anthony M. “Tony Patch” Patragnoni. The bar operated through at least 1977.
Anthony M. Patragnoni was born on January 13, 1922 to Sabatino and Concetta Patragnoni. By 1930 the family was living at 434 Line Street, where the elder Patragnoni worked as a laborer in a wool factory. Anthony Patragnoni would live at 434 Line Street through the late 1970s. His last years were spent living at Pine Beach in Ocean County NJ. He passed away on November 12, 1989. A 1940 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School on Federal Street in East Camden, he reunited with his high school sweetheart in his later years.
Marco DiGiamberardino was born on April 26, 1896 in Italy. His sister Concetta was married to Sabatino Patragnoni. He had lived in Camden NJ, but by 1946 had moved with his wife Josephine to 309 Black Horse Pike in Mount Ephraim NJ. He died on November 29, 1964, survived by his wife, who passed away on January 6, 1997 at the age of 92.
Tony's Grille shut its doors in the late 1970s. There has not been an operating bar at 529 South 6th Street since then.
Tony & Marco behind the bar at Tony's Grill
Mike DiGiamberardino, 2007
Tony and Marco behind the bar at Tony's Grill — Marco is on the right. Photo courtesy Mike DiGiamberardino, 2007.
Tony Patragnoni & Mickey 'Toy Bulldog' Walker at Tony's Grill
Phil Cohen,
Tony Patragnoni and Mickey “Toy Bulldog” Walker at Tony's Grill. The man standing behind them is believed to be Sergeant Ray Smith. — Phil Cohen, October 12, 2007
Tony Patragnoni at the 'Drop A Buck Club'
Man Says He Sought Death On Finding Wife Not Dead
Camden Courier-Post —
A shadow from the grave in the form of his first wife, believed dead, was his reason for attempting suicide, a man told Judge Garfield Pancoast in police court yesterday.
The defendant, who was treated at Cooper Hospital Wednesday night for knife slashes across his wrist, is Eugene Keller, 62, of North Easton, Mass. He related a life of wandering and despondency.
More than 30 years ago, Keller told Detective Maurice DiNicoula, he married a former Camden woman. The couple separated years later, and Keller believed his spouse dead.
He remarried and later divorced his second wife, DiNicoula said the man declared. Recently an application to the government for a portion of a small war pension was made by a woman who gave the name of Keller's first wife.
Keller, a veteran of the Spanish-American war, motored to Mt. Holly last Saturday to attend a reunion of the old Third Regiment. He told DiNicoula that his wife was in Philadelphia and he was seeking her.
DiNicoula said that he had served in the army with General Winfield S. Price and Col. Edward B. Stone, state prison warden. DiNicoula said Keller, who appeared in court with an arm in a sling, was seeking the services of a chauffeur today to drive him to the Massachusetts town.
Keller inflicted the wounds upon himself while in a cafe at Sixth and Clinton streets. Judge Pancoast suspended sentence.
Tony's Grill Token
Tony's Grill token — front and reverse
Tony would have been thrilled knowing his bar would live in perpetuity. Tony and I were good friends, he attended my wedding. I hung in Tony's from 1963 thru 1973. My ‘clique’ was Reds Nutter, George Blair, Al Chrisanti, and GiGi Meccariello. All are now deceased. I spent many a happy hour in Tony's. I also have fond memories of bartenders George, Lenny and sometime Mark(o) and waitress Bert. I am 80 years old.
— Ralph Lind, May 18, 2018