ANTHONY'S PIER 4

There have been many Immigrants from Albania that have been successful business men. The most successful of them all was Anthony Athanas. In his heyday he owned 5 major restaurants in Massachusetts. His flagship restaurant, Anthony’s Pier 4 was known far and wide throughout the country. At its peak it was grossing $12 million annually and was the highest grossing restaurant in the country. He was president of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and named restaurateur of the year in 1976. Every celebrity or politician who was anybody came and ate at his restaurant. To prove it he had pictures taken immediately with that person and hung the photos on his walls throughout the restaurant.

For as many years as I can remember, a gang of us from EPA had our annual Christmas luncheon there. We occupied the largest round table in the corner and we were often visited by Anthony on his rounds. Since his uncle married my aunt he would greet me with the Albanian word “krushk” meaning a non blood relative.  Paul Keough of our group, (a former Public Relations Spokesperson at the Ma. House of Rep.) would jump up and rush to greet each politician as he entered the restaurant. He never got to enjoy his meal. Anthony should have hired him as his official greeter.

Sadly the restaurant closed its doors this past summer. Another Southie landmark no longer with us.