Say what you want about bartending, but it sure does seem to offer job security!After 77 years of pouring drinks, the Guinness Book of World Records' longest serving bartender is finally hanging it up. Cammarata's Cafe, the establishment built by Angelo Cammarata and now owned by his sons, has been sold. Angelo is 95 years old.
While others may be able to claim tending bar for long periods of time, what gives Angelo the edge is his start date – the stroke of midnight, April 7, 1933. The very second prohibition ended in the United States.
For 13 years "The Noble Experiment" prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages. Angelo's father, Catino Cammarata, had the foresight to anticipate prohibition's end. He ran a grocery store at the time and was able to purchase an alcohol license in advance. Other businesses planned on serving drinks later in the day, but Catino and his family decided to make more of an event out of it. The moment the neighborhood clock tower rang, the Cammaratas begin carting beer off the trucks and selling to customers. With exception of serving in World War II, Angelo has been bartending ever since.
While owning the bar is bound to improve what Forbe's magazine recently named as one of the worst paying jobs in the country, his real secret to job longevity may be found in how he views his customers. Angelo takes pride not only in his work, but in the relationship he has built with his them. He told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette back in 1999,
"A neighborhood bar is more personal between owner and customer. It gets to the point where they're not actually a customer. They're a friend."In 2003, he spoke with the Tribune-Review and likened his job to that of a psychiatrist or a priest, adding,
"I've talked to my priest. I told him, 'Your line is sort of similar to mine. You have to gain the confidence of your parishioners. If someone doesn't like your way, they can go to another church."As far as his place in the record books? Angelo feels pretty confident. In a recent interview with KDKA, he said
"My bar, I have to be always cautious of my customers and be sociable with them. The next bar is only as far as your car will take you. I have to sell myself to my customers."
"Anyone who wants to break my record, I'm in my 77th year and I don't think there's another crazy person in this world that would try that."In our research we were able to turn up at least a little bit of competition he faced, back in 1999. Here's a video clip of The Daily Show's take on Angelo and his accomplishment. ;)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
tf says: (9:53PM on Aug 22nd 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
A journalist, is an editing storyteller. A reporter, is a conveyor of facts. Suposedly
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DKable says: (10:06PM on Aug 22nd 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
If you all would have clicked on the Cafe's name -- you would have found out this place is in Pennslyvania.
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George W Bush says: (11:16PM on Aug 22nd 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport3/3
West View Borough to be exact. Kinda tucked back away from the main drag.
George W Bush says: (11:14PM on Aug 22nd 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
It is in a part of the Greater Pittsburgh area called West view. The place is a typical 'Burgh bar, several TV's, a pool table, skee ball machine , a couple of video poker machines which they, of course (wink wink) do not pay off on. All in all, a nice neighborhood watering hole. You wont meet any beautiful people there, but you will meet very nice folk.
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Arnold says: (12:22AM on Aug 23rd 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
LmFAO, This is hilarious! wow, but hey, my great grandmother beats them, she's 96, and a horrible racist, but you gotta drink before you see her, she's got something to complain about each time, either her asian doctor, and indian nurse..
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McDuffik49 says: (2:12AM on Aug 23rd 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
I'm sorry to tell Guiness, but he has only been pouring drinks as a bartender for a little over 76 years. Not 77. Check the start date. 76 years 4 months 3 weks and 1 day.
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Tanner says: (2:23AM on Aug 23rd 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport3/3
Great story Mr. Rudloff.
May God bless you, Mr. Cammarata, on the start of your new adventure.
I know you have mended the heart and souls of many.
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Wish Belkin says: (5:09AM on Aug 23rd 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2.5/3
A giraff walks into a bar and says, :The highballs are on me".
I tended bar for a year. Tough job.
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Kathryn says: (9:49AM on Aug 23rd 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
Great Post, Alex!
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[url=http:www.panfu.de]Francesca Lernspiele[url] says: (6:55AM on Sep 2nd 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
Thank you for the article, Alex. OMG...76 years of activity, doesn't it sound great? It is just unbelievable to me!
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