Michael A. Caputo was inducted in 1918 for WWI as a Private and soon promoted to Mechanic. Born in 1892 in Italy, he was a resident of this building when inducted—most likely living on the second floor. He served in the 154th Depot Brigade and Company L of the 71st Infantry from August 1918 until his honorable discharge on January 31, 1919.

This building has a store on the ground floor and, like many others, has an apartment on the second floor. In the early 1920s, this was a store called “Boots and Saddles Cafe” that had a dirt floor and no doubt also had products related to horse racing at The Graw racetrack. In 1937, it was known as the “Town Tavern,” with restaurant and beer garden and owned by Eugene Vigna (1889-1965) and Luigina Mazzuca Vigna. In the 1920s, they had run a Shoe Repairing Shop located at 401 St. John Street for which they advertised that Eugene did “While You Wait” repairs and also used “Goodyear rubber heels.” They also were the parents of Rita Vigna Tarquini (1928-1997) who later ran the very popular Vigna’s Restaurant at 406 St. John Street.

From around 1967 to 1974 this was owned by members of the Stenger family who sold it to Edell D. Hall (1929-1991) and his wife, Ada who ran the Chesapeake Cab Company here. In 1982, this building was being sold by a mortgage attorney and Clovis and Ramona Bolen, who already owned the building next door in 322 St. John Street bought it as an investment. A store named Crafts Abound operated there in 1982 by Liz Luethy and Claire Greinel. The business specialized in craft supplies and handcrafted items. That store was followed by the J. R. Williams Country Store and in 2002 a store called Gryphon’s Jewelry operated here for a few years (it later moved to 500 North Union Avenue). In 2000, the Bolens sold the building to 320 St. John’s Street Acquisition, LLC, of Baltimore. Calico Cove then opened here for a short time.

In 2012, Victoria Thanner opened “Pizzazz,” which suffered some damage in late 2016 after a fire on the second floor, and Victoria closed the store. The newest tenant in this building, who took over in September 2019, is Charlene Price McMonigle who opened a beauty salon here called “Impressions Salon by charm.” The property continues to be owned by 320 St. John’s Street Acquisition, LLC, of Baltimore.

County Records
Built 1930. 3052 sq ft, retail store, 1762 sq ft lot.