Semento's Napoli Cafe

OUR ADDRESS:
1200 West Street
phone: 219-462-8751
email:tony@sementos.com

>> OUR HISTORY

On June 13th 1912, Americo Joseph Semento, at the age of 19, left his hometown in Provincia di Avellino, in the Campania Region of Italy and boarded a boat in Napoli and landed in New York on June 28th. He came to America to join other family members who already made the trip. He settled in Chicago with two of his sisters.

As a skilled tailor he took a job with a men's clothier. After eight years he came to Valparaiso and set up his own shop. He attracted professional businessmen by offering special-made suits.

Americo Joseph Semento Sr.

Americo Sr. known to many as "Mike" ran the business with his wife for many years. Theresa died in 1973 and Mike went on to run the business with the help of his children.

Mike lived in an apartment in the back of the tavern and opened every morning at 8 a.m. after spending several hours in his garden in the back. Many people still remember coming into the bar and buying vegetables from Mike's garden that he had displayed behind the bar.

In July of 1987, Mike passed away at the age of 93. And until that day, he still opened his bar every morning. From 1987 to 1989, Mike's youngest son, Dominic ran the bar. MORE>>>