"Bully for Ralph's"
THEODORE ROOSEVELT RETURNED TO RALPH'S ON
JULY 23, 2000
On Saturday, June 16, 1900, Theodore Roosevelt, the Governor of New York and Thomas C. Platt, a Senator from the same state, arrived at North Philadelphia Station and made their way to the Walton Hotel in Center City. The famous "Rough Rider" was in town for the Republican National Convention.
Three days later, Tuesday, June 19, Governor Roosevelt and a companion, fled the Walton and looked for a place where they could get a quiet meal - away from the Republican movers and shakers. Quite simply the GOP wanted Roosevelt to run as William McKinley's vice president, while TR wanted to remain as Governor and run for the presidency in 1904.
Searching for a quiet spot, the future president and his friend found their way to a newly opened restaurant, named after the 10-year-old son of the owner, in the working class enclave now known as "The Italian Market". That establishment had been open only about five weeks and the proprietor, Francesco Dispigno, was, himself, only in America for seven years.
Fate intervened that day, for sure and the rest, as they say, is history. Roosevelt opted to run for VP and a year later became President when William McKinley was shot. Francesco's restaurant grew and flourished and today is the oldest family-owned Italian restaurant in America.
To commemorate that fateful day, Ralph's designated Sunday, July 23, as "Spend Sunday with Teddy Roosevelt Day" and stage and screen actor Tim Moyer portrayed TR at the restaurant posing for pictures and recounting Roosevelt's colorful career. A special limited edition souvenir "Bully for Ralph's" campaign button, picturing Roosevelt, was given to diners that day (and a few remain for $10, postpaid c/o the restaurant).
"My family has passed the story of President Roosevelt's visit down over four generations. We believe that with the Republican Convention returning to Philadelphia exactly 100 years after my Great Grandfather opened his restaurant it is only fitting that we bring back someone who represents the first in a long-list of Ralph's celebrity diners," said owner/operator Jimmy Rubino Jr.
And now those who visited Ralph's on Sunday, July 23, will be able to recount, to their descendants, the day that Roosevelt returned for another visit.
A week after TR/Moyer visited the GOP held their 2000 convention in Philadelphia and Ralph's attracted the movers and shakers of the 21st Century Republican party for a week of dining in the Ralph's tradition.