The Giordano Family and restaurants have been a proud part of Martha’s Vineyard for over four generations and 80 years. This is reflected on the multitude of beautiful old photographs that hang in the restaurant dining room, many of which are shown here.
**These photographs are provided courtest of The Martha’s Vineyard Historical Society. Picture Captions (top to bottom) Oak Bluffs Boardwalk 1900; Vineyard Skating Rink 1900; Oak Bluffs Beach 1900; Railroad and Steamship 1900.**
Martha’s Vineyard has been a popular summer destination since the mid 1800s when Methodist church groups started annual summer camp meetings in Wesleyan Grove. By the late 1800s, the religious draw was being overtaken by the summer vacationing draw and the communal and family tents were being replaced by brightly colored gingerbread cottages. Wesleyan Grove turned into “Cottage City”, and “Cottage City” into Oak Bluffs. Steam ships brought vacationers from New York, Providence, Boston and Portland, and a steam railroad was available to deliver them to their island destinations (all the way to Katama). Oak Bluffs very quickly exploded into a resort town with an abundance of beautiful hotels and inns, restaurants, a boardwalk, and even a huge roller skating rink.
First Generation
Edwardo and his wife Maria Giordano had the foresight to open an Italian restaurant on the Vineyard in 1930. Its first location was in the old Pawnee House (where the Amity Café is today) in Oak Bluffs, across from the Post Office. It was a small restaurant with room for about 35 people. At the time, pizzas were cooked in old style wood ovens with sand insulation, which had to be started early in the morning with kindling and then coal in order to get them to proper pizza temperature. A small pizza cost 15 cents and a large cost 25.
Second Generation
Wilfred Giordano Sr., Edwardo and Mary’s son, started as a waiter in the restaurant, making his tips a few pennies at a time. Later, after taking over the family business, Wilfred moved the Restaurant to it’s present location in the beautiful old building of the Magnolia Restaurant, which he bought from Walter Perkins in 1943. At the time there was no Pizza Take Out. The Restaurant and Clam Bar (which was once a Laundromat), were separated by a small empty lot. In 1962, the Clam Bar and kitchen were torn down, and the Pizza Place, new Clam Bar, and new kitchen were built by local Vineyard architect, Wilfred Lawrence.
Third Generation
Buster and Richie, Wilfred Sr. and Antonette’s children, grew up working in the restaurant and in 1975, when Wilfred retired, they took over and continued the family business in the tradition that Wilfred had taught.
In 1976, they hired Frank, Peter and Heidi Dunkle, a local Vineyard family, to renovate the building to its present Victorian motif. The extensive face lift included:
* an abundance of beautiful stained glass work along the windows
* Victorian style raised paneling interiors
* removal of dropped ceiling and refurbishing of original ceiling woodwork
* repainting with original Victorian colors
Fourth Generation
Currently, a fourth generation of Giordanos continue the tradition of working at the restaurants.
Buster and Valerie’s children:
* Billy
* Carl
* Jason
Richie and Nancy’s children:
* Leanne
* Michael
