Ante Perkov Way

PERKOV, ANTE Restaurant: A new street sign will be unveiled July 31, 2003 in the Los Angeles suburb of San Pedro, California. Renaming streets in Los Angeles is a matter not taken lightly by the City Council. A few weeks ago, after much heated debate, the Council tabled a proposal to rename a Bradley, a long time mayor of Los Angeles. But the Los Angeles City Council, without hesitation, unanimously voted to rename a portion of Palos Verdes Street to Ante Perkov Way. Ante Perkov, a Croatian immigrant, was a renowned restaurateur, philanthropist, and one of San Pedro's most outstanding citizens. While The Los Angeles Times devoted a great deal of space to the Councils decision making process, it only touched briefly upon Perkov's reputation as a community leader and his generosity in feeding the needy. His story could very well epitomize the American story. In 1940, working as a galley boy on a Croatian freighter, he jumped ship in Charleston, South Carolina. His first eating establishment was Tony’s cafe in 1945 with eight stools in the heart of San Pedro's rough and tumble waterfront that was epitomized by notorious Beacon Street. An area filled with watering holes like Shahghai Red's, Tommy's Goodfellows and White Swan were renowned to seamen throughout the world, his cafe soon became a oases for those who indulged in Beacon Street's temptations and politicians from City Hall up the street.

When reform minded dogooders instituted so called urban renewal the ever colorful historic Beacon Street establishments were razed and irreversibly altered the town's character. The resilient Perkov then opened Ante’s, a restaurant across from the Court House. He often jokingly said that the judges and lawyers that frequented his restaurant were shadier than the ones from old Beacon Street. His restaurant flourished to an extent that he soon outgrew the location. He finally settled in a huge complex on Palos Verdes Street. In the process of assimilating in America, Perkovs Croatian heritage took a back seat since he wholeheartedly embraced all that is good about his adapted country. Perkov's proudest day was when he became an American citizen. He made certain that the largest American flag in San Pedro flies over his restaurant.

Perkov never forgot the generosity strangers extended to him in his trek across America. With his ever present trademark of wearing a fresh carnation over his right ear, he never turned down a plea from those down on their luck either in form of cash or a meal. A tradition he carried out until his death. Perkov became involved with just about every civic service Club and charitable organization of the harbor. area. America has reciprocated his love and generosity. Aside from being elected Honorary Mayor of San Pedro, recipient of an honorary degree from Pepperdine University for humanitarism during his illustrious career he was honored Man of the Year by: the Salvation Army, Boys Club, Boy Scouts, Toberman Settlement House, and Lions Club. Numerous religious and other civic organizations also honored him. I believe there is no Croatian-American that has been more philanthropic than Perkov. And he has done so without fanfare, strings attached or for tax purposes

In the process he never lost his bearings. He remained the same Ante that he was when he had the little cafe on 7th Street. Ante was born in Tribunj on the Adriatic coast of Dalmatia, Croatia. (Blaskovich 2003)