Just 2 short blocks from where Lucky Luciano grew up in the East Village is a storied restaurant immortalized in both Boardwalk Empire and The Soprano’s: John’s of 12th Street.
A couple of unlucky fellas had their last meals here. John’s was a prominent speakeasy during Prohibition making wine and whiskey in their basement and serving them in espresso cups in case of a raid. Opened in 1908 this was a red sauce and wine joint that exuded the type of old world Italian charm that tended to attract wiseguys.
John’s on 12th Street
Umberto Valenti
One such wiseguy who ate his last meal here at John’s was Umberto Valenti, the chief assassin for mob boss Salvatore “Toto” D’Aquila. D’Aquila had been locked in a vicious mob war with Joe “the boss” Masseria and Valenti had tried, unsuccessfully, to assassinate Masseria, who miraculously walked away with 2 bullet holes through his hat and 2 through his coat (maybe he should also have been given the nickname Lucky).
In the guise of a peace treaty, Masseria (looking for revenge) lured Valenti to John’s for a sit-down on August 11th 1922. However, when Valenti was leaving the restaurant with six of his associates, 2 well-dressed gunmen, Lucky Luciano and Vito Genovese came from across the street and opened fire on Valenti, who stumbled across the street to the northwest corner of E. 12th St and 2nd Ave to a waiting taxicab, where he collapsed, and died.
The flame burns on at John’s
Inside, one of the restaurant’s most noteworthy features is its gigantic candelabra that sits in the back room. Dripping wax onto vintage wine bottles it was first lit to mark the end of prohibition and has been here dripping wax ever since. If you’re in the area, be sure to stop by for some of their chicken parmigiana or homemade baked lasagna (just keep an eye out as you leave the restaurant).
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