Peter's Restaurant (Restaurant Week)

This week's series of downtown Holyoke luncheonettes and restaurants has featured eateries within a short walk of one another. I'll add another to this list and recount the story of Peter's Restaurant.

The year was 1934, and Peter Rigali, who had worked in his father's confectionery shop for 21 years, struck out on his own, opening Peter's Restaurant. The new venture was located at 80 Suffolk Street in the Knights of Columbus Building, opposite the Victory Theater. The first photo below points to the restaurant's location within the building. 

This restaurant featured lunches and full-course dinners. Initially, ads indicated that it operated from 11 AM to 2 PM, reopening from 5 PM to 7 PM. The restaurant underwent extensive renovations in 1943, including new linoleum, a fresh coat of paint, a new electric fryer, and a self-service area. Additional dining specials were added.

In 1947, Peter Rigali died, and the restaurant was sold to his brother, Ferdinand "Fred" Rigali, who continued to own the P. O. Spa at the southwest corner of Dwight and Elm Streets. Shortly after taking over the business, he added new booths and fluorescent lighting in 1948. The menu was revised to include more Italian food favorites. Pizza pies were added in 1950. 

In September 1952, Fred Rigali added a 6-lane bowling alley to the basement of the K of C Building at 78 Suffolk Street. League bowling was held there. Fred Rigali was an excellent candlepin bowler who competed in national championships.

The restaurant was listed for sale in 1955, but the prospective owners who operated Toscani Restaurant could not obtain a full liquor license. Peter's had been operating under a beer-and-wine licence.

The restaurant was sold the following year to Vincent Falbo of South Hadley. His wife, Mary Falbo, had been working at Peter's Restaurant. The Falbos operated 7 days a week in 1959, from 5:30 AM to 1 AM. In 1960, the restaurant ceased operating, and its contents were auctioned.

Citations:

Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; publication dates and pages are shown.

Ancestry.com (paid subscription): Price & Lee Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts (1956)

Knights of Columbus Building, opposite the Victory Theater

Peter Rigali, Owner of Peter's Restaurant until 1947

The location of Peter's Restaurant is shown at 84 Suffolk Street.

Ferdinand "Fred" Rigali, Owner of Peter's Restaurant (1947-1956)