The Roaring ’20s Return…..

The Roaring ’20s Return….. to Fort Myers…well, sort of !!! As you, my readers know…we live in Cape Coral, which is just over the bridge from Fort Myers.

On Monday, the Captain and I were invited to an invitation only, Grand Opening of “Capone’s”, a restaurant featuring coal-fired pizza and home made pasta.

This is no ordinary pizza shop as it was inspired by the notorious Chicago gangster, Al Capone… and features pictures and memorabilia, which carry on the theme of the 1920’s prohibition era.

The owners decided to utilize the existing history of the area, which already includes famous Fort Myers residents, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and of course Thomas Edison.

Actually, it was rumored that Al Capone did frequent Fort Myers while living in Miami, (which is about 150 miles to the South East of Fort Myers)..and other story tellers say Al Capone

had a “safe house” somewhere in our local area…..which leads me to the secret room or vault that lies in the middle of the dining room floor.

While renovating the building, the owners came across a “room” or underground vault so to speak….and while they are not claiming it was actually the long, lost vault of Al Capone; there

is a resemblance to the one that Geraldo Rivera opened on national television many years ago.

   

We all remember that fiasco when there was nothing in the vault. 🙂

The owners of “Capone’s”,  have put up a plaque in the middle of the dining room explaining their “find”.

 It is documented by a large rectangle of  glass flooring allowing customers to see the contents of the “discovery” in the basement of Capone’s!

While keeping with the Roaring ’20s theme, the owners are letting the customers decide if the vault actually belonged to Al Capone. 😉

The thin crust pizza which is a coal fired pizza, was delicious … and the home made spinach pasta in Alfredo Sauce was also yummy! 

I have never liked a thick crust pizza…if I wanted to eat mostly dough…I would eat a freshly baked loaf of bread slathered in butter! 🙂

And yes, I have to confess that I have done just that…not recently mind you! 🙂

Another interesting feature of the evening was the small table at the front of the restaurant. There sat a lovely lady (obviously a book signing) with stacks of books in front of her.

Her name is Deirdre Marie Capone! Yes, this charming author signing books, is the grand niece of  public enemy #1, Al Capone,…. declared by the Chicago Crime Commission of 1930.

Her grandfather, Ralph Capone, older brother of Al Capone, was public enemy #3, also in 1930!

Quite a distinction, huh?

 

The Foreward explains how she hid from the name Capone for years, obviously an embarrassment….and then in later years tired of deceptions, Deirdre states: “For all the dissension, for all

the pain, there comes a moment in our lives where we have to stand up and say, “This–the good and the bad–is who I am.” 

I have not started reading the book yet, but I will and I will share my review with you, my readers!

I also want to share a few more book reviews that I have been working on…one is a trilogy, authored by my dear friend Sandy! More to come! 🙂

The Captain and I will go back for a regular meal at “Capone’s” and I will post pictures of the food and more comments.

It was a little difficult at the opening because everyone was given samples on little plastic plates which did not photograph well and it was very crowded as openings tend to be.

Until then…I hope you enjoyed seeing all the pics of the latest addition to the food scene in Fort Myers, Florida.

Have a Happy Thursday and Happy eating!

 

 

Me