Scotto's Wine Cellar Going "Gateless" On Court

Scotto's Wine Cellar at 318 Court

Scotto History: Meet Leo, Anthony, Sal and Frank, above

The original storefront.
On the window, the store's liquor license number: W22

Court Street Curbside Wine Delivery

You may have noticed the sign in the window of Scotto's Wine Cellar at 318 Court Street. During one of the last wind storms, the awning was ripped off and has to be replaced. So, the owner, James Benedetto, decided to update the store's front at the same time. In the process, the big heavy gate will come off. Benedetto feels that the neighborhood has become so much safer since it was installed about twenty years ago, that he no longer feels the need for one.

James took over Scotto's in the late 1980's and with it, it's history as one of the oldest liquor stores in New York City. He showed me the wonderful photographs of the store and the Scotto's who ran the place so many years ago. Aren't the photos lovely?

If you look carefully at the picture of the storefront, you can see that originally, the entrance was in the center and the windows were made of rounded glass. And you see the gold lettering and numbers? W 22 was the liquor license number issued to Scotto's right after prohibition. Neat, no?

I can't wait to see the new "gateless" storefront. I am sure Leo, Anthony, Sal and Frank would approve!


Scotto's is at 318 Court Street






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