Speakeasy:

A speakeasy was an establishment which illegally sold alcoholic beverages during the period of United States history known as Prohibition (1920–1932, longer in some states).

During this time, the sale, manufacture, and transportation (bootlegging) of alcohol was illegal.

The term comes from a patron’s manner of ordering an alcoholic drink without raising suspicion... bartenders would tell patrons to be quiet and “speak easy."

Speakeasies became more popular and numerous as the Prohibition years progressed, and more of them were operated by people connected to organized crime.

Prohibition produced some of the most notorious criminals that the world has ever seen.

Prohibition allowed men like Chicago gangsters James "Big Jim" Colosimo, Johnny "The Fox" Torrio and the infamous Al "Scarface" Capone to rule crime empires equal to any large corporation in the United States.

Although police and Bureau of Prohibition agents would raid them and arrest the owners and patrons, the business of running speakeasies was so lucrative that they continued to flourish throughout America.

speakeasy

In major cities, speakeasies were often quite elaborate, offering food, live music, floor shows, and striptease dancers.

Corruption was rampant. Speakeasy operators routinely bribed police to leave them alone or to give them advance notice of raids.

Of course, today alcohol is legal so The Walnut offers you a wide assortment of American favorites as well as imported beer, wine and Top Shelf Liquors.