By Miriam Raftery

September 1, 2012 (La Mesa)—At Bugsy’s Brew Coffee, La Mesa’s newest java joint, owner Dan Moran serves up some colorful history along with coffee drinks named after famous gangsters such as Al Capone, Lucky Luciano and Ma Barker. The shop's slogan, “So good it should be illegal,” also hints at a delicious whiff of controversy.

“I named the place after my grandfather,” says Moran, a San Diego native with an infamous family tree. 

His grandfather, George “Bugs” Moran, ran Chicago bootlegging operation during Prohibition. Moran's gang was gunned down in the notorious St. Valentine’s Day massacre in 1929, reportedly on the orders of Al Capone. Ironically, Moran’s life was spared--thanks to a coffee shop.