This is a reprint of a “From the Local History Room” column that first appeared in March 2015, before the launch of this weblog.
The Central House of Nello and Isolina Rossi
By Jared Olar
Library Assistant
In March 2019, we took a closer look at one of the tribute advertisements in the 1949 Pekin Centenary volume, which featured the image of the Ehrlicher Brothers’ first pharmacy prescription from 1865. This week we’ll look at another of the tribute ads in the 1949 Centenary – the ad for Central House, one of Pekin’s former restaurants and hotels which was owned and operated in the 1930s and 1940s by the Italian immigrants Nello Rossi and his wife Isolina.
As mentioned before, often the Centenary’s ads not only trumpeted the qualities and virtues of the featured businesses, but also provided historical details of the businesses. That is especially true of the Central House ad, which takes up the whole of page 56 and provides a colorful glimpse at life and dining in Pekin during the early and mid-20th century.
The ad also includes a drawing of “The Original Central House,” which those who are familiar with the early published sources on Pekin history will immediately recognize as a reproduction of the Central House drawing from Cole’s Souvenir of Pekin, a collection of miniature drawings or engravings of Pekin’s prominent buildings that was produced and sold by Henry Hobart Cole, Pekin’s pioneer photographer.
Here’s is the text of the Centenary’s ad for Central House, which was located at 333 Margaret St. in downtown Pekin:
“Established on the principle that the laboring class in Pekin should be served with the best in quality at the lowest prices, the Central House at Margaret and Capitol streets was purchased in 1932 by Nello Rossi.
“In a building 100 years old – as old as Pekin itself – the Central House soon established a reputation for excellent food, superior service and honest dealing.
“Since the Central House was established by Mr. Rossi as the finest Italian restaurant in the community, his family has maintained it in the traditions in which early business was transacted.
“Under the supervision of Nello Rossi, with Mrs. Rossi preparing the food, the Central House became the unofficial meeting place for the laboring men of Pekin as well as the farmers who had regarded the Central House as a gathering place even before it was taken over by the Rossis.
“After the death of Mr. Rossi in 1943 his wife and three sons, Lawrence, Al and Italo, continued operation of the Central House. Today, however, Italo and Al are engaged in the management of the hotel, having taken the reins upon their return from military service. Both of them were in the uniform of the United States navy.
“During recent years the Central House has grown in size as well as clientele. In 1940 a new dining room, The Blue Room, was added to the original structure and rapidly earned a reputation for its excellent Italian and American cuisine. Specialties, of course, are the Italian dishes – spaghetti, ravioli, salads and anti pastos. Also on the menu are fried milk-fed chicken, steaks and fish.
“Popularity of Rossi-prepared foods has resulted in the establishment of Rossi Food Products, Inc., which went into business on January 1, 1949. The new company has constructed a processing and canning plant adjacent to the Central House on N. Capitol street and the Rossi Food Products label is already visible in most of the grocery stores in Central Illinois.
“On the growing list of Rossi Food Products are canned chili, spaghetti sauce, beef barbecue, beef stew, and the only green salad dressing on the market today.
“Actual ownership of the Central House is still in the hands of Mrs. Rossi who actively supervises the preparation of its tasty dishes and, as has been her practice for many years, she examines each day’s menu for, ‘Quality, price and appearance.’
“Concerning the future, the Rossis are looking forward to continued expansion of their Central House services and their Rossi Food Products production. They plan to do so by maintaining, to the best of their ability, their present high standards of food production and dining room management.”
Central House last appears in the Pekin City Directories in 1958, so must have closed about then. By the 1970s, 333 Margaret Street was the site of Pekin Downtown Motel and Coffee Shop, owned and operated by the late Larry L. Noreuil.
