THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, May 23, 2025 Page 7 your name, your story, your favorite booth or bar stool and (of course) cocktail of choice. And maybe, if you stayed late enough, they’d share a few stories of their own (and a few drinks on the house). Today, I want to honor a few of the names that helped shape those golden years — the first installment of the Greatest Bartenders in the History of Maldonia: • Pete Trabucco, Highland Café/ Cremones • Walter Wishoski, Mike’s Café • Franny Spadafora, Albert’s Beer Garden at the San Rock Festa • Jimmy Palermo, Anthony’s Restaurant/Italian American Citizen’s Club • Mike Picillo, Loyal Order of Moose Lodge • Frankie Villa, Italian American War Veterans Club • Paul Gennetti, Highland Café • Maureen Wortman, Anthony’s Restaurant • Dante Mercurio, The Stadium Café • Tommy Denehy, Ancient Order of Hibernians • Bobby McCoy, The Roadside • Dave “The Elbow Enforcer” Angelo, IACC/Highland Café • Mary Brown Spadafora, Anthony’s Restaurant • Ralph Kelly, Loyal Order of Moose Lodge • Richie Morando, Highland Café/Hilltop Steakhouse • Steve Kelleher, Malden Legion Post 69 • Jason “The All American American” Munroe, East Side A.A. Of course, everyone had their bartender — the one who always seemed to know when you needed a drink or just needed someone to listen to (or knew when to shut you off). These names are just a start. Tell me yours. Tell me your/ their stories. Because in Malden, it was never just about the bar — it was about the people who made you feel like you belonged. Am I right? As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” — “Across the Universe” to Maldonia, April 1970. The world shook as Paul McCartney shattered Beatle Nation with a simple press release — his departure — a quiet thunderclap that signaled the end of an era. While the headlines screamed and fans mourned, somewhere beyond the known, in a place called Maldonia, my life took a memorable path. Five childhood friends ventured out of their safety zone — Edgeworth — for a short trip, a memory that would last a lifetime. In remembrance of that day in April of ’70 when the Beatles broke our hearts (and the day in early 1969 when I purchased the record that would change my childhood), I bring to you (once again), dear readers (no need to thank me), this Maldonia tale of yesteryear... We started walking to the Square on that long ago Saturday morning at about 10. We walked everywhere back in the day or rode our 10-speed Schwinn’s as most kids in pre-two- or three-car households did. We walked down Charles Street past the A.O.H., Wendell’s Barber Shop, DeMarco’s Café (now home to Pisa Pizza), Everett Supplies Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Celebrating 66 Years in Business! •Vinyl Siding •Free Estimates •Carpentry Work •Fully Licensed •Decks •Roof ng • Fully Insured • Replacement Windows www.everettaluminum.com Now’s the time to schedule those home improvement projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter! the Italian American Citizen’s Club and the Gas Tanks, then turned left onto Commercial Street. I recall post Yankee Village Commercial Street in those days (right in the middle of the big Urban Renewal push in Malden) as an industrial wasteland; large, dark, ominous brick buildings — mostly vacant and desolate — they reeked of chemicals, industrial waste and Malden’s less than glamorous manufacturing past. We gleefully picked up random heavy projectiles, threw them at the windows of abandoned brick monstrosities, smashed a few, then mischievously trotted the rest of the way to Pleasant Street (which in those days had no large, soulless City Hall building in the middle of it — aka The Beast That Ate Pleasant Street). The walk to Jordan Marsh from there was a short one. Our goal that distant day in May of 1969 was to procure our very own copy of the latest Beatles LP — called by some simply the White Album. The 4 Mop Tops were on top of the world in 1968, and those of us who loved pop music in the All-American berg of Malden were just as crazed about them as the rest of the universe. We trudged up to the third floor (?) where they stocked their vinyl; paid (I believe) close to nine dollars; brought the platter home and for months wondered why there was no inner album sleeve to marvel at! I am now on my 56th year (yikes!) of enjoying that very same mind-blowing vinyl album. Best $9 my mother ever spent. LOL. Postscript 1: I also became a Kinks fanatic when moms surprised me on Christmas morning 1975 with “The Kink Kronikles” festively wrapped under the tree with my name on it. She knew her children well. Postscript 2: Even I was confused by my own timeline; for clarification purposes I submit the following: The White Album was released in November of 1968; we walked to the Square in early 1969 (mom probably didn’t give us permission to walk past Highland Avenue until I turned 12 (LOL); Sir Paul turned the world upside down in 1970. —Peter is a longtime Malden resident and a regular contributor to The Malden Advocate. He can be reached at PeteL39@aol.com for comments, compliments or criticisms. 8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Tues. - Sat. at 4:00 PM Closed Sun. & Mon. 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