José Docampo & Antonio Lagares

Information courtesy of Chris Lagares

“My great-grandfather’s name was Don José Docampo. He came from Moruxo (Bergondo). He owned the restaurant El Tropezón on West 11th Street. According to my father and uncle, it ran as a pool hall and speakeasy during the Prohibition.

My father, Don Antonio Lagares, always claimed that my great-grandfather was one of the earliest Hispanics to have a liquor license. The restaurant had the stevedores and longshoremen as their primary clientele.

My father would later open El Olé restaurant on 2nd Avenue and 25th street, with his brother Don Pepe Lagares, which they owned from 1970 to 2002″.

Our thanks to Chris Lagares (Instagram @instalagares) for generously sharing this family story.