Towers Bar
The Towers Bar at 1990 Federal Street was formerly known as Siegle's Bar and Marty's Tappe House. The bar was founded by two brothers, Martin Segal and Joseph Seigle. Joseph Seigle's granddaughter, Karen Bender wrote in 2018 “Joseph Seigle was my grandfather… Since my great grandparents could not spell in English, each was given a different spelling at some point.”
Martin Segal and his brother got into the bar business in the 1920s. The first ventures proved difficult. In April of 1925 Martin Segal operated a bar at 1504–1506 Federal Street, which was raided twice by Camden police looking for alcohol, which was found. He was raided at that location at least two more times in 1925, but no liquor was found. He was denied a license in 1927. In 1928 he applied for and received a license to operate at 2046 Federal Street. Martin and Joseph operated at that address into 1931. That year they opened up for business at 1990 Federal Street, a property that had been remodeled and turned into a bar by Owen Kernan in 1930. Martin Segal took an interest in politics that culminated with his election to the office of Sheriff of Camden County in 1956, a post he was re-elected to four times by overwhelming majorities and from which he retired in February of 1972. After his election as Sheriff, Martin Segal sold his interest in the bar to his brother Joseph Siegle, with the license application for liquor license transfer being submitted at the end of 1956.
Joseph Seigle operated the bar successfully for a decade. He enjoyed a special relationship with the C. Schmidt and Son brewery of Philadelphia, which had a distributorship at 1999 Federal Street, directly across the street from the bar. He sold the bar to Hyman Karpowitz, of Pennsauken, New Jersey, who renamed it the Towers Bar, and was in business there as late as 1979. The building was demolished sometime after an armed robbery at the bar in 1979, with the liquor license being sold and transferred to another location in 1983.
Transfer Okayed For Bar License
Camden Courier-Post —
Transfer Okayed For Bar License — The transfer of the liquor license of Seigle's Bar, 1990 Federal Street, was approved last night by the Camden Alcoholic Beverage Commission. The license was transferred from Joseph Seigle to Hyman Karpowitz of Pennsauken.
City bar owner, bartender shot during holdup
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden police were searching for two men who shot a Camden taproom owner and a bartender during a robbery attempt Friday.
Hy Karpowitz, 53, of 4240 Terrace Ave., Pennsauken, owner of the Towers Bar, was in fair condition in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Camden, with two gunshot wounds.
Lt. Edward Michalak of the city detective bureau said the owner was shot in the right side of the face and in the right arm.
An off-duty bartender, identified by police as Harry Matchner, 37, of 31 Boyd St., Camden, was treated for a gunshot wound of the right hand and later released.
Michalak said at least four shots were fired moments after two unidentified men entered the bar at 1990 Federal St. about 11:48 a.m.
Allen Karpowitz, the owner's son, said his father kept a loaded gun under the bar but never used it during several other robberies there.
“He got hit when he tried to defend himself,” the son said.
Michalak said the two men fled on foot into a nearby housing project. Police also were investigating a report of a stolen car at the New Northeast School, Seventh and Linden streets, shortly after the hold-up attempt.