There’s no one quite like Vin DePeppo. He stands a bit over six feet tall and wears his signature side part coif as he proudly shows visitors his man cave or walks around the weekly Saturday Car Cruise at Friendly’s, which he helps direct. You’d never guess he’s 81. To call his man cave “one of a kind” doesn’t come close to doing it justice, so we’ll start, as he begins, when folks descend the steps into this vintage lair.

Guests are immediately drawn to the 1879 Brunswick Narragansett pool table in the center of the room. DePeppo sits in a classic raised chair at the front of the room and appreciates how it’s admired. He then escorts the visitor to a photo and asks, “Who’s the man in this photo playing pool?” It’s Samuel Clemens, whose pseudonym was Mark Twain, playing pool on what appears to be the exact same pool table.