History: City Cafe; Iberville, Louisiana
Submitter: Joan Angelo Newman
Date: Feb. 2000
Source:




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In 1919, Martin Miranda was one of the owners of a small cafe located on
Main Street near the banks of Bayou Plaquemine and known as the "City
Cafe".  He was an Italian immigrant who came to Iberville Parish in
September of 1888 where he filed his Declaration of Intent to become a
United States Citizen.  He came on the Floria Rubathine to the port of New
Orleans.  His occupation was listed as "barber". At this time, lumber was
the principle industry in the area and there were numerous sawmills located
along Bayou Plaquemine.  Since the opening of the cafe, Martin's brother
Jimmy, was involved in the day to day operation and management. After
Martin's death in 1935, Mr. Jimmy and Mrs. Marie became sole proprietors.

In the 30's and 40's, sugar and oil took over as the town's biggest
industries. The Cafe was the gathering place for morning coffee and
business lunches as well as for family gatherings in the evenings.

It was one of many businesses on Main Street including the Ritz and Rita
Cafes, the Mission, Hotel Silber, Theater Wilbert, Hebert's, Spano and
Lawhon's and Ramagos' barber shops, Joe's Pool Hall, Gallagher's, Ferro's
and Collura's bar. However, the City Cafe endured and persevered on as the
other businesses dried up or were torn down for progress.  It remained
under the Miranda family management until 1975, when "Mr. Jimmy" retired.
It remained in business under different management until 1982, when the
Miranda family resumed ownership. By joint family effort, the business was
successfully rebuilt and was then managed by Charles "Squeaky" Miranda who
left the coaching profession to devote full time to the operation of the
Cafe.

By this time, progress had brought the petrochemical industry to Iberville.

In February, 1994 the Cafe was destroyed by fire and again rebuilt.  It
reopened in September, 1994.  Although a lot of new materials had to be
used in the reconstruction, as much of the original building, furniture and
fixtures as could be saved was retained along with the original atmosphere.

In September, 1998 it was sold to Alfred J. Carville, Jr. and his family.
The Cafe continues to operate in the same family tradition of the past.

A significant feature is the banquet room of the reconstructed Cafe.  It
has a "Pictorial History of Plaquemine" borrowed from the collection of Mr.
Anthony "Tony" Fama, well known local historian, and includes drawings and
photographs from the middle 1800's to the present.