Carlos Campisi and his wife, Antonina Cammarata, emigrated from Sicily to the United States by boat in 1907.[1] After starting in New Orleans, Louisiana to be with Antonina's brother, they moved to Dallas in 1916 and eventually had six children.[1] In 1946, Carlos opened the Idle Hour Bar where he used a small kitchen in the back of the bar to make pizzas.[2]
The current facility on Mockingbird Lane was founded as The Egyptian Lounge in 1946 by Johnny Brazil Grisaffi.[3][better source needed] Originally founded as a piano bar,[1] Carlos purchased The Egyptian Lounge in 1950 and left most of the decor intact.[1][2] Without enough money for a new sign, "Lounge" was removed and replaced with "Restaurant".[2] According to a family member, Carlos purchased the business in order to get his sons Joe and Sam started in business after World War II and they were the ones who worked and developed the business.[1]
As of 2016, the Campisi family continued to own and manage the restaurant and have opened ten additional branches throughout the Dallas–Fort Worth.[2]
The Los Angeles Times reported that the restaurant capitalized on a popular belief that one of its early owners, Joseph Campisi, was tied to organized crime and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.[4]Jack Ruby, the killer of Lee Harvey Oswald, frequented Campisi's and stopped for steak there the night before the assassination.[5] Some who believe that Kennedy was killed due to conspiracy, such as Robert J. Groden and G. Robert Blakey, claim that Joseph Campisi was well-connected with the mafia, and that Ruby's association with Campisi means he was connected to organized crime, too.[4][6] Family members acknowledged that Joseph Campisi was on friendly terms with Carlos Marcello and other gangsters who visited the restaurant, but denied he was involved in criminal activities.[4] In 1979, the House Select Committee on Assassinations investigating the circumstances around Kennedy's death reported "it is clear that [Joseph Campisi] was an associate or friend of many Dallas-based organized crime members, particularly Joseph Civello, during the time he was the head of the Dallas organization" and that the found "no indication that Campisi had engaged in any specific organized crime-related activities."[5]
On July 7, 1991, American LeagueumpireSteve Palermo and former college and pro football player Terence Mann had been dining separately at Campisi's when they rushed outside with other patrons to break-up a robbery. While attempting to apprehend one of the perpetrators, Palermo was shot in the back and left partially paralyzed, and Mann was shot in the neck.[7] Four men were arrested, including a 21-year-old Persian Gulf War veteran who was eventually sentenced to 75 years for the shooting.[8]
^ abcdefAbril, Danielle (October 28, 2016). "How David Campisi Keeps Growing the Family Business". D Magazine. Dallas. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
^ abcdKezar, Korri (March 14, 2016). "Campisi's opening first location outside of North Texas". Dallas Business Journal. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
^"Glenna B. Grisaffi". www.restlandfuneralhome.com. Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
^ abcFairbank, Katie (February 14, 1999). "A Dallas Restaurant Cashes In on Mob Connection". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
^ ab"iii. Joseph Campisi". Appendix to Hearings before the Select Committee on Assassinations of the U.S. House of Representatives. Vol. IX, Staff and Consultant's Reports on Organized Crime. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. March 1979. p. 336.
^Blakey, G. Robert (November 7, 1993). "Murdered by the Mob". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
^"Umpire, former NFL player wounded breaking up holdup". upi.com. UPI. July 8, 1991. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
^"War veteran gets prison for shooting ump". upi.com. UPI. November 10, 1991. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
External linksedit
Campisi's Restaurant
December 15, 2023
campisi, egyptian, restaurant, 836338, 771688, 836338, 771688, restaurant, informationestablished1946citydallasstatetexascountryu, websitecampisi, restaurantcampisi, restaurant, italian, american, restaurant, located, mockingbird, lane, dallas, texas, offering. 32 50 11 N 96 46 18 W 32 836338 N 96 771688 W 32 836338 96 771688 Campisi s Egyptian RestaurantRestaurant informationEstablished1946CityDallasStateTexasCountryU S WebsiteCampisi s RestaurantCampisi s Restaurant is an Italian American restaurant located on Mockingbird Lane in Dallas Texas 1 USA offering a self described Roman cuisine Carlos Campisi and his wife Antonina Cammarata emigrated from Sicily to the United States by boat in 1907 1 After starting in New Orleans Louisiana to be with Antonina s brother they moved to Dallas in 1916 and eventually had six children 1 In 1946 Carlos opened the Idle Hour Bar where he used a small kitchen in the back of the bar to make pizzas 2 The current facility on Mockingbird Lane was founded as The Egyptian Lounge in 1946 by Johnny Brazil Grisaffi 3 better source needed Originally founded as a piano bar 1 Carlos purchased The Egyptian Lounge in 1950 and left most of the decor intact 1 2 Without enough money for a new sign Lounge was removed and replaced with Restaurant 2 According to a family member Carlos purchased the business in order to get his sons Joe and Sam started in business after World War II and they were the ones who worked and developed the business 1 As of 2016 the Campisi family continued to own and manage the restaurant and have opened ten additional branches throughout the Dallas Fort Worth 2 The Los Angeles Times reported that the restaurant capitalized on a popular belief that one of its early owners Joseph Campisi was tied to organized crime and the assassination of President John F Kennedy 4 Jack Ruby the killer of Lee Harvey Oswald frequented Campisi s and stopped for steak there the night before the assassination 5 Some who believe that Kennedy was killed due to conspiracy such as Robert J Groden and G Robert Blakey claim that Joseph Campisi was well connected with the mafia and that Ruby s association with Campisi means he was connected to organized crime too 4 6 Family members acknowledged that Joseph Campisi was on friendly terms with Carlos Marcello and other gangsters who visited the restaurant but denied he was involved in criminal activities 4 In 1979 the House Select Committee on Assassinations investigating the circumstances around Kennedy s death reported it is clear that Joseph Campisi was an associate or friend of many Dallas based organized crime members particularly Joseph Civello during the time he was the head of the Dallas organization and that the found no indication that Campisi had engaged in any specific organized crime related activities 5 On July 7 1991 American League umpire Steve Palermo and former college and pro football player Terence Mann had been dining separately at Campisi s when they rushed outside with other patrons to break up a robbery While attempting to apprehend one of the perpetrators Palermo was shot in the back and left partially paralyzed and Mann was shot in the neck 7 Four men were arrested including a 21 year old Persian Gulf War veteran who was eventually sentenced to 75 years for the shooting 8 See also editList of Italian restaurantsReferences edit a b c d e f Abril Danielle October 28 2016 How David Campisi Keeps Growing the Family Business D Magazine Dallas Retrieved February 10 2023 a b c d Kezar Korri March 14 2016 Campisi s opening first location outside of North Texas Dallas Business Journal Retrieved February 11 2023 Glenna B Grisaffi www restlandfuneralhome com Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery Retrieved February 11 2023 a b c Fairbank Katie February 14 1999 A Dallas Restaurant Cashes In on Mob Connection Los Angeles Times Retrieved February 10 2023 a b iii Joseph Campisi Appendix to Hearings before the Select Committee on Assassinations of the U S House of Representatives Vol IX Staff and Consultant s Reports on Organized Crime Washington D C United States Government Printing Office March 1979 p 336 Blakey G Robert November 7 1993 Murdered by the Mob The Washington Post Retrieved February 10 2023 Umpire former NFL player wounded breaking up holdup upi com UPI July 8 1991 Retrieved February 11 2023 War veteran gets prison for shooting ump upi com UPI November 10 1991 Retrieved February 11 2023 External links editCampisi s Restaurant Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Campisi 27s Egyptian Restaurant amp oldid 1168242737, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
