Illegal Drinking And Gambling Shut Down 1960s New Orleans Lakefront Lounge: A Blast from the Past
Similar to the beer and Barq’s that once gushed from its numerous dockside eateries, readers captivated by recent essays about West End’s glory as a New Orleans entertainment hotspot continue to send in memories of its famous past.
This includes Gerry Ricks, who wrote to ask for information about the Anchor Inn, a sailing-themed nightclub in the West End that she cherishedly recalled going to with her husband in the early 1960s.
Ricks wrote, “We got married in August 1965 and don’t remember anything after that.” “I’ve looked for photos and tried to learn what happened to the place, but I’ve had no luck. Mike, are you able to assist me?
In a nutshell, aye-aye. However, there is a catch.
Entrepreneur Frank Scariano owned the Anchor Inn, and while we can piece together its relatively short — and rather dubious — history thanks to the (news)paper trail, images of the establishment in all its splendor are hard to come by.
Fortunately, Ricks’ recollection alone provided a clear picture.
It felt a lot like the sea, Ricks wrote. The bar occupied an entire side of the fiberglass boat, and the dance floor and bar were divided from the little tables, each of which could seat two people, by large ropes.
The stage and dance floor were located in the back, facing the lake marina through floor-to-ceiling glass windows. We could dance to the day’s hits, and they featured fantastic vocalists and live music.”
Despite being memorable, the location’s name wasn’t the original one. Distinct establishments bearing the same name have been operating in American cities. These included three locations: one in the French Quarter, one on Magazine Street in New Orleans, and one in St. John the Baptist Parish near the Vacherie Canal.
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Whether original or not, owner Scariano, who began building boats in West End as early as the 1950s, would have been a perfect fit for the nautical theme.
Early 1960s newspaper ads list Scariano Boat Works’ address as 7412 Lakeshore Drive, which is across from the entry into Orleans Marina and on the east side of the last half-mile vestige of the New Basin Canal.
Scariano, who was keen to grow his empire, applied in February 1961 for a liquor license for his new Anchor Inn, which was to be situated at the adjacent address of 7410 Lakeshore Drive. Later that year, the Anchor Room, a nearby reception hall, would open.
The property, which had a view of the marina, was around 3,250 square feet in size. The ground floor was split equally between the reception hall and the bar, which took up about 1,625 square feet each. There was a tiny kitchenette in the reception area.
Two offices, a restroom, and a small kitchen were located upstairs.
It wouldn’t last long if Scariano was seeing clear sailing. Eight months after the Anchor Inn applied for a liquor license, in October 1961, the police raided the establishment.
Scariano was taken into custody and charged with providing alcohol to underage customers.
Scariano’s company would face several legal issues in addition to the raid.
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As part of Operation Handbook, a crackdown on illicit gambling, over 100 federal agents and New Orleans police officers searched 28 local houses and businesses at the same time on the afternoon of January 17, 1964.
The Anchor Inn was one of them. Scariano was arrested on suspicion of permitting gaming near the sale of alcoholic beverages.
In the subsequent year, Scariano listed the bar’s buildings for sale, but he kept it open until at least November 1973, when he stopped posting classified advertising.
That indicated that the situation had gotten worse.
Scariano was charged with tax evasion and faced an indictment in May of 1974. After being found guilty, Scariano would get a sentence that included 90 days in jail on weekends, three years of supervised probation, $10,000 in fines, and court expenses, according to a newspaper article.
For the Anchor Inn, it was the end of the line.
The former location of the pub has housed several enterprises throughout the decades, including a posh condominium complex called Villa Dal Mar in the early 2000s.
The Lakehouse, previously Maison du Lac, is located at 7410 Lakeshore Drive and serves as a reception hall and event area with floor-to-ceiling windows providing a beautiful view of the waterfront. This serves as a sort of validation of Scariano’s initial idea.
Not sure whether they accept wagers.