If you had to guess where a jungle was located in Springs, where would you say it was? If you guessed Fort Pond Boulevard, you would be correct. That’s where Jungle Pete’s once stood, an eatery and watering hole that served countless Springs residents, including the Abstract Expressionist painter Jackson Pollock.
This image from the Springs Historical Society shows its proprietor, Peter Federico, leaning on a stair railing leading inside. The eatery, originally called Pete’s Restaurant, was established in 1934, and by 1937 it had obtained a liquor license. In January of 1944, a fire completely destroyed the building. By September of that year, the Federicos had rebuilt the tavern and reopened for business.
The tavern was named for its proprietor, Pietro (Peter) Federico (1908-1964), who with his wife, Nina M. Hulse Federico (1902-1987), ran the restaurant until his passing in 1964. Nina went on to operate the watering hole by herself until the 1970s, when she sold the business to new owners.
The “jungle” part of the name refers to the thicket of brush and scrub oaks that grew around the building in the early days, and the name stuck. By 1945, Pete’s Restaurant had officially become Jungle Pete’s. Aside from being a beloved eatery, Pete’s was a popular venue for celebrations of all sorts. Many anniversaries, wedding receptions, and celebratory dinners happened there, accompanied by any number of local bands hired for weekly Saturday night dances.
Since its tenure as Jungle Pete’s, the tavern on Fort Pond Boulevard has continued in many different iterations, including the popular Wolfie’s Tavern until 2017, and now as the Springs Tavern.
To learn more about landmarks in Springs, be sure to check out the Springs Historical Society’s 50th anniversary celebrations on Saturday, including a tree planting ceremony and an open house.
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Julia Tyson is a librarian and archivist in the Long Island Collection.
