Firefly Cafe is set on beautiful Troup Square (named for Governor George Troup). The building was constructed in 1869 for Mr. John J. McDonough, who later became the Mayor of Savannah, serving from 1891-1895. Alfio Finocchiaro, an Italian immigrant, bought the building in 1946. Alfio's youngest son, Frank tried to talk his father out of buying the building. For you see, during those years the neighborhood was quite different. Annual New Years Eve bonfires were held in Troup Square and other downtown squares as a competition by local “gangs”. The fire department was (of course) on hand to make sure the fires didn't get out of control. It was Frank's greatest fear that one day the entire neighborhood (and his parent's home) would go up in a blaze, for having the largest fire was the aim of all the “gangs”.
