LaSalle Cafeteria and Local 802 Part 2
Courtesy of The New York Public Library
Another story in our series Food and Jazz from the Bronx historical Society archives. The LaSalle Cafeteria had been located near the Palladium Ballroom on 53rd Street and 7th Avenue. It served as important space in the historical memory of jazz musicians. It was nothing more than a cafeteria with many tables where musicians and other lovers of jazz met. It was open 24 hours a day and one could count on meeting jazz musicians there at any time. It was ideally located next to the China Doll Club and the Palladium Ballroom. It was convenient for musicians from those and other nearby clubs to spend their rest periods at the cafeteria. While sitting at a table sipping a cup of coffee, one could eavesdrop on a conversation among well-known artists, get the latest information about job openings, critiques about the performance of popular orchestras and gossip about musicians and singers.
