Local Life

Retro Rumson Cold Brew Tenders’ TGIF

Image
Tony Mellaci tends bar at Franks in Rumson circa 1950s
Photo/courtesy of Jim Mellaci

Hey, brew tender, spend a little time with us!

It’s a wish that many wish would come true on a sweltering summer’s day like today. Just picturing the scene, the very cool company and, the cold beverage on tap, among other things, thoughts revert to some cool Rumson guys serving up some cold brews and sunny smiles always on tap.

The beer tenders? Well, they would be the iconic Tony Mellaci and dad Frank, of Rumson. The quite dynamic father-son duo served up many a brew and a lot of camaraderie to go along with it at Rumson’s Frank’s Tavern back in the 1940s, ’50s and early ’60s.

The Mellaci family grew up on a Tyson Lane estate in Rumson, where the father, Frank, was a caretaker. “With the demise of prohibition, Tony’s father acquired one of the first liquor licenses in Rumson and in 1935 moved his family to 128 East River Road where he opened up Frank’s Bar,” Tony’s obituary said. Frank’s moved to another Rumson location in 1948, the Mellaci team running it until 1962.

Tony Mellaci passed away recently at the age of 100, every year of his life pretty much spent in Rumson and very much connected to its people and places.

He served up a lot of cheer and true coolness in Rumson. The faces in the iconic place are a perfect snapshot of the Mellaci duo serving up a healthy slice of happy Rumson times at Frank’s.

Did everybody know one another’s name? Oh, that’s a given. And, yes, it’s a sure bet they were always glad Rumson regulars came … Cheers! Now, who knows those Rumson regulars’ names?

Investment Process