The Bowery Hotel was a slightly run down establishment in Little Italy run by Bill Shipp and funded by the Barzini crime family, who were attempting to subtly make a move into the neighborhood. In 1945, Bill called upon Aldo Trapani to rid him of several troublesome guests. Trapani did so, and he was given a cut of the hotel's earnings in return. He later bought a hotel room on the second floor for $20,000 dollars.