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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Doyle's Cafe in Jamaica Plain shut down in October after 137 years of operation.
On Wednesday, much of what was inside was up for auction. From dishes and kitchen scales to articles about JFK and former Boston Mayor Ray Flynn, it all had to go.
Locals packed the closed bar, where old newspapers, signage, political posters, signed portraits, and more lined the walls.
Steve, a bartender at Doyle's for nearly 40 years, said it was a sad day. But he was bidding on a sign commemorating performing elephants Mollie, Waddy, and Tony's arrival in Boston in 1914. He said his girlfriend's mother was one of the kids involved in bringing the elephants to the city.
Some items, though, were not for sale—including the bar itself, the booze, a hand-painted menu from the early 20th century, and what Doyle's staff say was the first phone booth ever in Boston.
Dave, who has been coming since the 80s, said he was glad those items were staying.
"It looks like the really historic stuff isn't being sold, so I'm kind of happy about that, because that means it's being kept for some reason," he said.
Doyle's may be leaving the neighborhood, but Zeema Cranmer with Save Doyle's is holding onto the restaurant's leg as it walks out the door.
"You know, you don't appreciate what you have until it's gone, and I think the community will appreciate anyone that steps in to maintain this place," she said.
WBZ NewsRadio's Suzanne Sausville (@wbzSausville) reports
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