Cap’s Place
Tucked away along the Intracoastal Waterway in Lighthouse Point sits one of Florida’s most historic landmarks. Before it was a celebrated restaurant, Cap’s Place was the heart of Prohibition-era excitement—where rum runners, gangsters, and high rollers came to drink, gamble, and escape the law.
This is the incredible true story of Cap Knight, his rum-smuggling operation, and the secrets that made Cap’s Place legendary.
The Knights: Cap & Lola
The Man Behind the Legend
Captain Eugene Theodore “Cap” Knight was a skilled mariner born in 1871. He knew the waters between Florida and the Bahamas better than anyone. When Prohibition hit in 1920, Cap saw opportunity—making nightly runs to Bimini, smuggling premium liquor back to the U.S.
Using fast boats, hidden channels, and a sharp knowledge of the tides, Cap stayed one step ahead of the law. He would anchor offshore, tie “hams” of liquor to buoys, and retrieve them once the Coast Guard patrols moved on. For years, he never got caught.
Rum Runner, Too
Cap’s wife, Lola Knight, was no bystander. A former schoolteacher, she helped haul sacks of whiskey, move contraband, and never feared arrest.
When asked years later if she was ever afraid, she famously said, “No, neither Cap nor I was afraid of the devil himself.”
The Al Capone Connection
During the 1920s and early ’30s, Al Capone spent a great deal of time in South Florida. Palm Island was one of his homes, and Cap’s Place was one of his favorite hideaways.
Historical records and accounts list Al Capone as a known patron, along with other infamous figures like Meyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegel.
While Capone did not own Cap’s Place, he dined, drank, and gambled here many times. A secluded speakeasy where liquor flowed and the law didn’t—what’s not to like?
From Speakeasy to Icon
Established in 1928, Cap’s Place has earned a reputation as Broward County’s oldest restaurant, offering visitors a unique combination of fresh seafood, Old Florida charm, and nearly a century of fascinating stories.
Prohibition ended in 1933, rum-running stopped, and the casino era eventually faded. But Cap’s Place survived. It has been preserved for generations and in 1990 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.Today, you can still arrive by boat, just like the rum runners and celebrities of the past. The wooden floors, bamboo bar, and original charm remain—along with the stories, the history, and the legend.
Cap’s Place isn’t just a restaurant. It’s a living piece of Florida history.
