400 Kaighn Avenue was operating as a bar as far back as 1887, when William Houck was the proprietor. Carl Stahl later acquired the property, and was operating the facility in 1918. Mr. Stahl remained in business through at least 1940, when he appears in the Camden City Directory for that year. The 1943 Directory indicates that Cornelius Ward had become the new owner. 

Cornelius and Catherine Ward conducted business at 400 Kaighn Avenue under the name of Ward's Cafe. Mr. Ward passed away at some point after 1947. Mrs. Ward remained in business at 400 Kaighn through at least 1959.

The 1966 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory reveals that the bar had a new name, Lobey's Bar, but it soon changed hands again. In May of 1967 Dominic and Jean Aiello applied for a liquor license for the bar as Nik-Ro Inc., trading as Gina's. The bar was still being called Gina's as late as 1969, as evidenced by an ad taken out in the Camden High School 1969 Purple & Gold yearbook. The bar subsequently operated briefly as Lefty's Tavern and as Big Ed's however, by July of 1974 the sign out front said The 400 Club.

Interestingly enough, "Lobey's Bar" remained listed in telephone directories through the early 1980s. In 1981 their was dual telephone listing, with both Lobey's and The Four Hundred Bar appearing in the New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory for that year.

The property was late obtained by an Hispanic preacher, and has been used as a church in recent years.

Lobey's Bar

Summer of 1955
as seen from 1211 South 4th Street

Click on Image to Enarge

Sign Reading
The 400 Club

July 4, 1974

The Former Lobey's Bar
then called
The 400 Club

July 4, 1974
as seen from
South 4th Street
&
Newton Avenue

Click on Image to Enarge

November 9, 2003