Charlie’s Club (1942-1972), 2049 Mead Street, was supposed to have been the first place in Racine to serve pizza. I started doing research on Charlie’s Club and found these amazing pictures by Matt Binetti. If someone ever made a book about the Italian immigrants who settled in Lakeside, near Mead Street and Racine Street, I would buy it instantly.
Update, 11/27/2016: According to newspaperarchive.com, Nilo’s on 16th Street started advertising pizza in 1947, and Charley’s Club started advertising pizza in 1948.
From left to right: unknown, Frank Casciaro, unknown
Nick & Edith Binetti’s wedding party; photo taken outside of Charles’ Tavern. Nick and Edith (Christiano) Benetti were married on February 14, 1942.
Charlie’s Club advertisement from 1954 Racine phonebook
Charlie’s Club “13”, Racine Journal Times, 6/27/1941
Charlies Club on Mead Street … looks like date on photo says March 1970
I can still remember having a cheese pizza on a Friday night after the CYO dance. It was either at Charley.s or a Hamburger or two at Wimpey’s. It’s hard to forget places like these.-The Best of times were spent there.
Tell us more! Please!
Am I remembering correctly that there was a side entrance, sort of a porch, where you picked up pizza to go? This would have been in the 50s.
My family had Houmann&Son’s Fishmarket when it was a family fish market. I can remember delivering fish —late on Friday nights with my Dad to the 1970 picture. Houmann’s often delivered late Fridays to taverns running out of fish for their fishfrys.