PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA ORGANIZED ORGANIZED CRIME CRIME THROUGH THROUGH THE THE YEARS YEARS Photographed by Emma Veronica Quinn
PHILADELPHIA CRIME FAMILY THE BEGINNING Philadelphia has been a part of the organized crime era since the early 20th century. Italian immigrants immigrated to America and many settled in South Philadelphia where gangs would eventually join together in turn creating the Philadelphia crime family. It all started with Salvatore Sabella as head of the Philadelphia crime family. His reign was during prohibition and the mob would keep themselves busy by bootlegging, illegal gambling, extortion, loan sharking, etc. These duties lead to an enormous amount of organized crime around the city.
PHILADELPHIA CRIME FAMILY PRESENT DAY In present day, the Philadelphia mob still stands as an organized crime group. There isn’t nearly as much hype about them as there was between the 80’s and 90’s but they are still active. It is unclear just how much of the traditional structure of leadership remains in the family but what we do know is that the Cosa Nostra family is the head of the Philadelphia mob today. Many people still consider Joey Merlino as the boss of the Philadelphia mob but there are some back and forth arguments arbout the fact of the matter. Many of the famous mobsters that were seen in the news over the past 20 years have long retired, died or are still active. It is hit and miss but the Philadelphia crime family has a lot of background which most of is left unsaid.
ITALIAN MARKET The Italian Market had been a part of Philadelphia history since the late 1800’s. Philadelphia mobsters were known for making their way to the Italian Market for gatherings and lunch as a common meeting place while also planning local hits on other mobsters. Previously, Millie’s Flower Shop.
THEN
1937
Presently, Paul and Frances Giordano’s Food Market.
Southwest corner of 9th and Washington Street, Philadelphia PA
NOW
2019
THE BOMB BOMB The Philadelphia Inquierer
As Seen in the Philadelphia Inquirer April 6, 1936
In March of 1936 a bomb was placed on the newly-opened tap room of this restaurant’s front stoop that detonated and shattered windows up and down the street for blocks. The owner at the time, Vincent Margarite, re-opened the bar one day later, un-phased by what had occured. A month later, on April 4th, 1936, a second bomb detonated at the taproom. This time it was strong enough to throw neighbors from their beds, including Margarite and his family, who lived on the second floor of the restaurant. The building was renovated and soon found out to have been hit by the mob due to its strong rivalry with other Italian owned bars in the area. No one was killed during these encounters. It is named the Bomb Bomb after the two bombs that were denotated there. 1026 Wolf Street, Philadelphia, PA
THEN
1973
NOW
2019
OREGON DINER Before mobster Nicky Scarfo rose to the Philadelphia mob boss in the 80s, he stabbed and killed someone at the Oregon Diner in South Philly in 1963. The encounter started from an argument over a seat.
THEN
1995
Presently, still a diner under the same name.
NOW
302 West Oregon Avenue Philadelphia, PA
2019
BALDI FUNERAL HOME
THEN
Where many famous mobsters were brought to have their families say their goodbyes and lay them to rest after being haneously killed by mob related incidents.
NOW 1965
2019
THEN Presently, still a functioning funeral home under the same family’s ownership.
NOW 1965
2019
FORMER HEAD MOBSTER ANGELO BRUNO’S HOUSE Angelo Bruno was assassinated outside this house, on March 21, 1980. Bruno was killed because he allowed the New York Mafia to take some of the profits the Philadelphia mob was making on gambling in Atlantic City, NJ during tha time.
934 Snyder Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 1980
2019
NOW
THEN
SAINT MONICA’S CHURCH BRUNO’S FUNERAL A church still standing today that was used for many South Philly mobster’s funerals including that of Angelo Bruno.
1980 2422 South 17th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19145
2019
NOW
THEN
FORMER HEAD MOBSTER PHILLIP TESTA’S HOUSE This house needed rbuilding after being blown up in the murder of Philip Testa. Testa was the boss of the mob at the time who took over after the murder of Angelo Bruno. He was killed on March 15, 1981 because Frank Narducci and Rocco Marinucci two other well known Philly mobsters wanted to take power away from Testa for various reasons.
1981
2019
NOW
THEN
SAINT MONICA’S CHURCH TESTA’S FUNERAL 2422 South 17th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19145
1981
2019
NOW
THEN
DANTE & LUIGI’S A mobster named Nicky Scarfo Jr. was shot inside Dante and Luigi’s, the oldest Italian restaurant in Philadelphia, by a masked man who had a gun hidden inside a trick-or-treat bag on Halloween night 1989. He survived the encounter.
THEN
1899
NOW
2019 Presently, still the oldest running Italian restuarant in the city of Philadelphia.
762 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA
MELROSE DINER The Melrose Diner is one of the most famous diners in Philadelphia to this day had and has had a bloody past. On Sept. 17, 1993, Frank Baldino a Philadelphia mobster was killed in his car parked outside the diner by the infamous hitman John Veasey because of his connection to mob rival leader Joey Merlino.
NOW
2019
1985
THEN
Presently, still a diner under the same name.
1501 Snyder Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
CONTINENTAL RESTAURANT AND MARTINI BAR
THEN
Continental Restaurant and Martini Bar is well known Philadelphia businessman Stephen Starr’s first restaurant. This location is different from the rest of the previously mentioned restaurants because of its Old City location and non-Italian cuisine. It is said that Joey Merlino, another notorious Philly mobster, liked eating here frequently before hitting up the bars with hisboys in the 90’s.
NOW
1972 Presently, still owned and ran by Stephen Starr with another location in center city called Continental Midtown located on Chesnut Street.
2019
2nd and Market Street, Philadelphia PA
WORKS CITED https://www.pennsylvaniaburialcompany.com/our-story-and-articles http://bombbombphilly.com/past/ https://www.phillymag.com/news/2013/02/01/35-years-philly-mob-george-anastasia-2/ https://www.pennsylvaniaburialcompany.com/our-story-and-articles https://www.courierpostonline.com/picture-gallery/news/local/south-jersey/sj-history/2014/06/18/a-look-back-historic-nj-philly-mafia-photos/10810611/ https://thephillywiseguys.wordpress.com/2014/10/19/locations-from-the-book-the-hitman-atrue-story-of-murder-redemption-and-the-melrose-diner/ https://library.temple.edu/scrc/urban-archives https://aboutthemafia.com/whos-really-running-the-philadelphia-mafia-in-2018
FIN.