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ChipGuide
ChipGuide - A Catalog of Casino Chips and Collectibles
Became: Artichoke Joe's
676 San Mateo Avenue
San Bruno, California
Type: Card Room
Status: Closed
Open: 1921, Close: 1964

Joseph Sammut Sr. (b. 1893 - d. 1967), an immigrant from Malta, opened a pool parlor and card room at 2606 San Bruno Avenue in San Francisco in 1915. In 1921, he moved the pool hall to 676 San Mateo Avenue in San Bruno, and changed its name to "Joe's Pool Parlor". He later opened the “San Bruno Cocktail Lounge” across the street at 695 San Bruno Ave.

The pool parlor had a two-table card room and a telephone exchange, which handled extensive off-track betting. In the 1940s, the operation reportedly had a monopoly on illegal bookmaking in San Bruno. In 1942, Joe Sammut Sr. turned the operation over to his son, also named Joe, and retired in Malta. Joe Sammut Jr. was briefly arrested on bookmaking charges after the pool hall was raided in 1949.

Sometimes called “Joe's Pool Hall”. In the 1950s, it was also called “Club Artichoke” and “Joe's Place”. It became “Artichoke Joe's” in 1964 (see "Became").

Photograph of the pool parlor circa 1921 (Courtesy of the San Mateo County Historical Association).

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Casino Money
Table Chips (8) [QuickView]
CG039358 Obsolete
Added: 2011-07-13
Last Update: 2019-10-07
Color: Lt Gray
Mold: H&C (LCV)
Inlay: HS-Gold
CG039359 Obsolete
Added: 2024-03-24
Last Update: 2024-03-24
Color: Lt Gray
Inserts: 2 Red
Mold: H&C (LCV)
Inlay: HS-Gold
Contributed by: John Chamberlain
CG039355 Obsolete
Added: 2011-07-13
Last Update: 2011-07-13
Color: Cream
Inserts: 2 Red
Mold: HHL
Image
Needed
CG039356 Obsolete
Added: 2011-07-13
Last Update: 2011-07-13
Color: BEIGE
Inserts: 2 Blue
Mold: HHL
CG039357 Obsolete
Added: 2011-07-13
Last Update: 2012-11-30
Color: ORANGE
Inserts: 3 Red
Mold: HHL
Contributed by: Glenn Grush
Image
Needed
CG039354 Obsolete
Denom: 50¢
Added: 2011-07-13
Last Update: 2019-07-04
Color: Red
Mold: C&S
Image
Needed
CG039353 Obsolete
Denom: $1
Added: 2011-07-13
Last Update: 2019-07-04
Color: Blue
Mold: C&S
CG039352 Obsolete
Denom: $1
Issued: 1932
Added: 2011-07-13
Last Update: 2022-08-10
Color: Maroon
Mold: C&S
Casino Collectibles
Chip Order Cards (1) [QuickView]
CG290510
Issued: 3/21/1932
Added: 2022-08-10
Mftr: United States Playing Card Co.
Contributed by: Dave Horn

USPC Co. order record
Match Books (1) [QuickView]
CG225792
Added: 2019-07-04
Contributed by: Rich Hanover
Total Items (10)

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