FISHERMAN’S
WHARF
Outdoor
Crab Stand
Café
Eight Nonna Rose
THE
RISE OF A DESTINATION WITH ALIOTO’S TAKING CENTER STAGE
Alioto's
Restaurant, a San Francisco landmark located on Fisherman's
Wharf, has long been part of San Francisco's rich history. The
Alioto family, in addition to contributing one of the oldest
eating establishments to the City, has given the city a two-term
mayor, Joe Alioto, and a former San Francisco Supervisor, cousin
Angela Alioto. It's no wonder the name Alioto is one that is
closely associated with the City of San Francisco itself.
That history is proudly displayed in the "Wall of History"
exhibit - photographs, menus and ephemera from their seven decades
on the Wharf. The exhibit, displayed in the restaurant’s
entryway, chronicles the growth of the Wharf from a sleepy fishing
village to an international tourist destination. In the entryway
is also a wall composed entirely of thousands of cla shells
saved from diners' meals through the years.
What grew to become
an institution in San Francisco dining actually began as a fresh
fish stall, founded in 1925 by Nunzio Alioto, Sr., a Sicilian
immigrant. At the time, the Wharf consisted of an enormous lumber
yard, train tracks, a union hall, canning plants and wholesale
fisheries. At Stall #8, Nunzio sold steamed crab, and shrimp
and crab cocktails to the Italian laborers.
In 1932, he constructed
the first building on Fisherman's Wharf. After suffering a bout
of double pneumonia, Nunzio died suddenly at the age of 41,
leaving behind a wife, Rose and three children. Strapped for
a way to support her family, Rose took over the business becoming
the first woman to work on the Wharf. Initially, she was shunned
by her male neighbors, who refused to sell her fish. Luckily,
Phil Rubino, who had formerly worked with her husband, stepped
in to help.
A number
of historical events contributed to the restaurant's phenomenal
growth. With the completion of both the Golden Gate and Bay
Bridges in 1937, San Francisco was quickly becoming the urban
center of Northern California. In 1939, the San Francisco Exposition
and World's Fair brought tourists from around the world to the
City.
The restaurant
flourished, yet it wasn't until the onset of America's participation
in World War II that its reputation became firmly established.
Fisherman's Wharf became one of the Ports of Embarkation for
sailors, who were often accompanied by their families. While
Rose's sons, Frank and Mario, were called off to serve in the
armed forces, Rose and her daughter Antoinette were kept busy
serving fresh seafood and hearty clam chowder to these men and
their families--and word about Alioto's Restaurant's food quickly
spread.
The restaurant
continued to expand as public demand grew for Alioto's delicious
seafood. By 1950, Rose enlarged her restaurant by purchasing
her neighbor's stall building a one-story brick building, then
adding a second story in 1957 making it the tallest building
on the Wharf.
Today,
the restaurant remains as popular as ever, with Nunzio and Joe
Alioto, the third-generation is in charge. Rose continued to
work in the restaurant and lived to see Fisherman’s Wharf
become San Francisco’s most popular tourist destination.
