By Shirley A. Satterfield

Saturday, August 16, 2025 was a day that joyfully commemorated 75 years of a noted and loved Princeton establishment in approximately 5 hours.

This day brought years of families, longtime friends, neighborhood reunions, the Princeton community, members of the Princeton municipality, visitors, familiar TV actors, historical organizations, even Professor Albert Einstein (impersonation) stayed to tell all about his life and shared historical and fun information! There were remembrances of town history, and history of a Princeton Community spanning from Jackson Street (Avalon Place – Paul Robeson Place) to Valley Road. The day was one of joy, excitement, reunions, entertainment, activities, food, and delicious pizza!

The event was to commemorate a Princeton treasure that was started and owned by Mr. Sebastiano Conte, who first sailed from Ischia, Italy, to New York in 1920. He returned to Ischia in 1924 and met Anna Sasso, whom he married three weeks later. He returned to Princeton to work and save enough money to bring his new wife to the United States. Anna arrived in Princeton in 1927.

Sebastiano and Anna Conte in front of their row house rental at 26 Witherspoon Lane, 1927

Mr. Conte saved enough money from his job as a construction laborer to build his first home at 64 Birch Avenue (renumbered to 124 Birch Ave.), where Sebastiano and Anna’s family lived upstairs, and Anna operated a grocery store downstairs. I had the privilege of speaking with Mrs. Conte who talked about living on the top floor as a child. She recalled her childhood living on Birch Avenue, a diverse neighborhood of African American and Italian families and friends.

Anna Conte with her daughters, Fannie and Amelia, in front of 64 Birch Ave (later renumbered to 124 Birch Ave), 1935

When prohibition ended in 1933, Sebastiano applied for a retail license to sell alcohol and converted his grocery store to a bar, The Black Eagle, that was later renamed Conte’s Café. Mr. Conte sold this building in 1936 to the African American men who were members of the Elks Lodge, and moved his business to 339 Witherspoon Street, opening the Witherspoon Bar. In 1950, Sebastiano rebranded his business as Conte’s Bar and became Princeton’s first pizzeria. This Princeton Gem has served countless hungry Princetonians for over 75 years!

The accomplishments and legacy of Mr. Sebastiano Conte in Princeton are evident in the institution we still revere today. However, it is even more remarkable that Mr. Conte built this legacy during a period of legalized segregation largely by serving members of Princeton’s Black community. Mr. Conte chose not to follow segregation policies that other Princeton businesses followed because the African-Americans and Italians were neighbors, and they were very good friends. May the blessings of 75 years of Conte’s Bar and Pizzeria continue welcoming Princetonians and providing community for many years into the future.

The Trustees of the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society extend our appreciation to Mrs. Rita Lucullo Waid, granddaughter of Mr. Sebastiano Conte, for inviting us to sit at a welcoming table to enjoy the celebration, share our history, fellowship with members of the Conte, Lucullo, and Baldino families, as well as so many who came to enjoy, share, contribute, and eat the best pizza ever!

Sebastiano Conte inside the Witherspoon Street Bar, serving members of Princeton’s Black community, 1947