Domenick's Spaghetti House
Domenick Gavioli was born in Italy. He arrived in America and settled in Southwick, Massachusetts. He built Domenick's Spaghetti House on Point Grove Road in 1930.
On June 28, 1930, around 6:30 p.m., some young men stole a slot machine from Domenick's Spaghetti House. The next day, around 4:00 p.m., they stole a slot machine from the Blue Star Filling Station on College Highway in Southwick.
Massachusetts State Police believed the thieves responsible for the Southwick slot machine heists were part of a quartet responsible for automobile thefts, break-ins in the surrounding area, and possibly a list of misdemeanors. Police in Springfield wanted them in connection to a gas station holdup that had gone wrong, with the attendant shot through his right wrist and right shoulder.
A lone patrolman in Westfield, acting off a vague description of the wanted men he learned during roll call, arrested two of the four men after he spotted them walking down Main Street. Later, while at Eva's Lunch on Elm Street, the officer spotted a green-colored sedan pulling into an alley behind the restaurant. The car matched the description of one the men used in a robbery, so acting on a hunch, the officer quickly exited the restaurant through the rear door with his service revolver drawn. He took the men by surprise by immediately jumping into the back seat of their automobile. Holding them at gunpoint, he ordered them to drive to police headquarters. (One of the men was a parolee, recently released after stealing a car from Pittsfield.)
Prohibition agents raided Domenick's Spaghetti House (and the Southwick Inn) in 1931. Domenick was fined $200 for violating liquor laws. He also received a six-month suspended sentence and one-year probation. (The Southwick Inn was fined $100.)
Domenick's Spaghetti House was originally seasonal, open May through October to capitalize on the summer tourists flocking to Congamond Lakes. Patrons enjoyed live orchestra music and dancing. Starting in 1933, Domenick kept his business open year-round.Domenick's son, Antonio, worked at his parents' restaurant. Massachusetts State Police summonsed him and a waitress to court in 1938 to answer charges of selling alcoholic beverages to three West Springfield minors on November 5.
A judge tried the cases simultaneously. First up was the waitress, who was found guilty and fined $100. Antonio faired better. The judge dismissed the charges after finding him not guilty. (Antonio married one of Domenick's waitresses.)
Domenick's Spaghetti House closed in 1942 after the Gavilois opened the original Anchor at the former Balch's Beach.
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Edited Out/Author's Additional Research Notes
Annable Domenick Gavioli: July 4, 1884 - August 17, 1955.
Domenick's funeral was scheduled for a Saturday; for some reason, it was rescheduled to Monday.
Domenick's Spaghetti House was believed to be at or near 124 Point Grove Road.
Three of the thieves were from Sommerville, one from Westfield.
A Lowell man broke into the former Domenick's Spaghetti House in August 1942. The man ransacked the shuttered restaurant, taking a tobacco pouch, soda, liquor, a revolver (and bullets), and other articles.
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