Francesco Yarusso, founder of Yarusso Brothers Restaurant was born in a small village located approximately 140 miles south of Rome. He Arrived in the United States with his sister Amelia in 1899, at the age of 18. They settled in Newark, NJ, where Francesco met & married Dora Corbo in 1901. Francesco & Dora arrived in St. Paul in 1904. Their first home was located in Swede Hollow. They had 14 children. Around 1911, they moved up the hill on Decatuer Street, which is lower Payne Avenue today. Francesco worked in a foundry, Northern State Power, & Schmidt Brewery. In 1932 he opened his own tavern. However, it was prohibition time and he sold only near-beer. In the following year he expanded by opening the “Square Deal Café”. Every family member, at one time was an employee of the café. The Italian sport of Bocce Ball quickly became a popular event at the Square Deal Café. Francesco put in the very first Bocce alleys in St. Paul. Those same alleys are still in use today. Many current patrons recall their fathers & grandfathers gathering on Sunday afternoon to smoke cigars & argue over a game of Bocce.