Interview: Armand DiStefano

Interview: Armand DiStefano

Armand DiStefano (1912-1987), the son of Italian immigrants, grew up in a small row house in South Philadelphia. There, his father instilled in him the value of hard work and a love of opera. In his 1984 interview, DiStefano shared the story of how his father opened a record shop in 1917 and then converted it to a restaurant during the Great Depression. Today, The Victor Cafe still operates at 1303 Dickinson Street, and the wait staff still sings opera to dining patrons.

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Charles Hardy

Armand DiStefano

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Victor Cafe

Records

Italian Americans

Record stores

Record shops

Denise Meikle