The building located at 1503 North Boulevard has a rich history dating back to its construction in 1922, when it became home to Capitol Idea Coffee. The structure, now owned by Claitor’s Law Books & Publishing Division, Inc., still stands, though its current use is largely as a storage facility. This fireproof building holds significance as the site of Baton Rouge’s first attempt at roasting coffee.
Capitol Idea Coffee was once a bustling operation, even winning first prize at the Donaldsonville fair, although the authenticity of this claim remains unverified. The building’s design was cutting-edge for its time, featuring a second-floor roasting area with chutes that transported the roasted beans down to the ground floor for packaging. Some of these original features are said to still exist.
The mastermind behind Capitol Idea Coffee was Frank Danna, a Baton Rouge resident who relocated from New Orleans with his family. He ran the coffee business successfully for several years. Eventually, however, Danna shifted his focus away from coffee and into the service industry, becoming the owner of the White House Café, located at 231 Convention Street. The reasons for his transition remain unclear, but there are hints of market troubles at the time, with A&P grocery stores discontinuing Capitol Idea Coffee in favor of a competing brand.
Danna’s life was cut short when he died at the age of 47, leaving behind his wife, Camille Bagnetto, and their four children. He was buried at Roselawn Cemetery, just two miles from where his coffee business once operated. Camille continued to manage some of their properties, including rental apartments, until her own passing in 1941.
Their family’s story remains somewhat mysterious, with questions about their children's lives, particularly the elusive Joseph, still unanswered.
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