3-d International Wins Prize

[Erik Sine]

3-D International wins prize

By RICHARD ECKE

Tribune Staff Writer

The 3-D Club has been a Black Eagle fixture since 1946, when smelterman Tommy Grasseschi and his wife, Dorothy, opened Tommy's 3-D Supper Club in the former Valentino's Butcher Shop.

Guy Tabacco was the main craftsman on the 3-D project.

"This was one of his first jobs when he came over from the old country," said Mark Grasseschi, a current 3-D owner. Tabacco, who later became a contractor, built by hand the curved bar in the 3-D lounge and a sweeping art deco canopy above it.

The original bar and its restored canopy remains a compelling fixture in the restaurant, located at 1825 Smelter Ave. in Black Eagle. By the way, 3-D stands for Drink, Dine and Dance.

Mark Grasseschi said he is proud of his Italian heritage on his father's side, and his mother's English-German roots. He is a history buff who oversaw restoration of the 3-D's bar.

"It truly is a passion of mine," Grasseschi said.

While not everything in the restaurant and lounge is original, Grasseschi said the owners have tried to maintain its original style.

Perhaps the most apparent feature of the restaurant is the towering neon sign on its roof.

"You can spot that sign for miles," Lehman noted.

"The sign was put up in '51," Grasseschi explained.

Grasseschi said Black Eagle has been a "real melting pot," including Italians, Croatians and other East Europeans. And while the town's ethnic makeup may be changing, "a lot of the families are still represented," he said.

"When I was a kid, you knew just about everybody who lived up here," said Grasseschi, who still lives in Black Eagle.

By the way, there's a wide variety of food available at the restaurant, which will be 60 years old this year.

"We make all of our own raviolis and sauces and fillings," he said.

[joemomma]

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