From the basement studio at Colombo’s Café & Tavern in Dogtown, we kick off with a powerful true story from JJ—about spotting a familiar face from his childhood, Tim Osborne, living under a downtown overpass… and how a bunch of Melville grads, a good Samaritan named Ken Stevenson, and a whole lot of hustle got Tim off the street and back on his feet. It’s the Brighter Side of Blue in action.
Then we sit down with Victor Failoni and Joey Meiners—son and grandson of Alex Sr. & Rosemary Failoni—to peel back the 100+ year story of Failoni’s Bar & Restaurant. From an Ellis Island start in 1916, steel-mill shifts at Scullin, and a $9,700 leap of faith… to Thursday night sing-alongs, the legendary Round Table, Rose’s kitchen revival, and the family recipe that became Uncle Leo’s Pizza—this is pure St. Louis.
In this episode:
JJ’s viral-worthy rescue: finding Tim, rallying help, and securing housing
Failoni’s origin story and the “Manchester Mile”
Police friendships and why Failoni’s became a cop-friendly home base
Thursday nights: from accordion to Sinatra to Black Eyed Peas
How Uncle Leo’s Pizza was born—and why the dough is still made fresh
Keeping a neighborhood institution alive for the next 100 years
If you love St. Louis history, neighborhood legends, and real community, hit play.
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