Mastry’s (233 Central Ave) stands as one of the oldest bars in St. Pete. Originally opening in 1935 under the name “The Pink Elephant,” the dive bar was first located across the street where the James Museum currently stands. Like a living museum, the bar has witnessed—and been marked by—its share of history.
Back in the day, the New York Yankees, during Babe Ruth’s record-setting era, would unwind at Mastry’s during Spring training. Famed pool player Minnesota Fats was a common fixture, chalking his cue and sharking the table (one couple even married atop the pool table). Over the years, numerous public figures—from politicians to musicians—have called Mastry’s their second home, and the bar has even appeared as a rendezvous spot in several romance novels.
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As one of St. Pete’s most legendary establishments, Mastry’s will celebrate its 90th anniversary on March 21 at 7 p.m. Although the ownership is still ironing out the final details, guests can expect music, special edition T-shirts, specialty drinks (shots and beers), and classic comfort fare, including hamburgers and hot dogs with all the fixings. Photo slides depicting Mastry’s journey through the 20th and 21st centuries will also take center stage.
Mastry’s is the great equalizer
Before St. Pete repealed its Blue Laws, alcohol sales on Sundays were prohibited to protect the sabbath. To work around this, the original bar owner, Lay Mastry, had kegs delivered to his house—a crucial move when the New York Yankees, complete with the Sultan of Swat himself, came to town for Spring training at Huggins Stengel Field on Crescent Lake. Babe Ruth cherished his memories of Mastry’s so much that his granddaughter and biographer, Linda Ruth Tosetti, traveled to St. Pete specifically to meet a member of the Mastry family.
The bar’s interior boasts one of the oldest murals in the city—a 1914 Coca-Cola advertisement painted by artist Thomas McClusky. Its authenticity has been verified by representatives from the soda company. “I would defy someone to find a mural in St. Pete that’s older than 1914,” declares J Mastry, one of the current owners. J’s wife, photographer Patricia Mastry, adds, “Dive bars are very special. They are disappearing—a big part of our combined history is in this bar.”
Former bartender Beverly Kaminski, who retired at age 80, helped fill in much of the lost history of Mastry’s. Described as a tiny Jewish woman with a penchant for the filthiest jokes, Kaminski became a crowd favorite, her renown rivaling that of Babe Ruth, Minnesota Fats, and other icons who frequented the bar. Today, Mastry’s retains the spirit of any dive worth its salt—it’s a great equalizer, where people of all walks of life can mingle and chew the fat together. “Conversations are what counts,” says Patricia Mastry. “Not who you are.”
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