Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, February 21, 2025 ~ Malden Musings ~ He’s Back...and Better Than Ever! John A. Fitzpatrick (Fitzy) Sales & Lease Consultant Direct: 617.410.1030 Main: 617.381.9000 Cell: 617.279.9962 jfitzpatrick@mcgovernauto.com McGovern Automotive Group 100 Broadway, Rte. 99, Everett Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 Johnny Riccio’s Highland Café J By Peter Levine ohnny Riccio, formerly of 24 Thatcher Street, generously reached back in time to remind future generations of Maldonians that these here streets have a long, rich history. Thank you so much, Johnny, for this contribution... “My grandmother, Margaret Riccio, lived at 26 Thatcher Street and was the sister of a very dapper, well dressed, first generation Italian gentleman named Julius Miola (sometimes spelled Meola). Uncle Julius purchased the ‘Bucket of Blood,’ aka The Highland Café I estimate around 1940. Bank loans were not an option for risky business purchases by first generation Italians, so my grandfather, Vincent Riccio, bankrolled the purchase. Uncle Julie worked hard and quickly to establish the Highland Café as a family restaurant with a dining room, and a segregated men’s bar with a back entrance. My cousin Susie Blaise was the original chef, who gave the Highland Café its famous pizza recipe. Uncle Julie and his wife Mary lived behind the restaurant in a two-family house they owned adjacent to the back parking lot. This arrangement was for convenience and supervision of the business which eventually flourished. The Café was so successful Paul DiPietro, Tommy Fudd Proctor, George W. Bush, Jimmy Cahill, unknown, Sandy Koufax that Uncle Julie was able to buy a house on the Cape and spent most of his time, at least seasonally, by the ocean. I remember, as a teenager, asking my calm, handsome, neatly dressed uncle, ‘Uncle Julie, while you’re away, how do you keep the bartenders from helping themselves at the cash register?’ He adjusted his Frank Sinatra fedora, looked me in the eye and answered ‘They gotta leave something for me or I’ll close up the place!’ My uncle was always philosophical, cool and calm. “One true Highland Café story mixed with both tragedy and glory. It was the day before Thanksgiving in 1959. My 9-year-old older brother Vinny and I were crossing Highland Ave directly in front of the Café. We were on our way to visit our good friends Henry and Paul Gennetti. As Vinny led the way he was hit by a truck and thrown 18 feet in the air, landing face down under a parked car. All I could see were his Converse All Stars sticking out from behind the parked car, with the front door to the Highland as a backdrop. The scene, in my mind, is as indelible as if chiseled in granite. I ran home and told my mother. She buttressed our infant brother on the kitchen table with towels so he couldn’t roll off, and we ran out the door. Mom yelled out [for] my ‘Nonny’ (Italian American for grandmother) to look after the baby. When we got to the scene the police and ambulance were there, and Vinny was in the ambulance. Many — Vinyl Siding — Carpentry Work — Decks — Roofing — Free Estimates — Replacement Windows — Fully Licensed — Fully Insured
7 Publizr Home