Our Personal Experience:
Throughout one’s time in Little Italy, there is not shortage of surprises or serendipities to be found. After your four senses being greeted as soon as you enter the neighborhood, a highly recommended first stop is the aforementioned Ferrara’s bakery. Based on my experience in the bakery, as we made our way in, excited to get a taste of Italy in New York City, the wide eye hostess kindly indicated that there would be just a short wait before we could sit down and experience what the bakery has to offer. In doing so, she did not need to take down the name of our party, but rather would recognize us when our table was ready, making us feel as though we were being welcomed into a home rather than a restaurant. Although a seemingly simple gesture, this gave us a hint of the Italian family that is ever so present in Little Italy’s streets no matter how many generations removed and how dynamic this community may now be. However, upon enjoying the food in the bakery we encountered yet another serendipity that left us wanting more. Based on the recommendation of our waiter, we divulged in a classic, the tiramisu. After one bite, we were transported to Italy with the sweet taste of the cream and the bitter bite of the coffee.
A Visitor’s Guide to Little Italy
The Church of the Most Precious Blood (109 Mulberry Street): This church was founded by Southern Italian immigrants because they did not want to attend “foreign” Irish masses. Before the church was founded, Italians would meet in church basements to perform their own ceremonies. This church is at the heart of the San Gennaro Festival that takes place every September.
Ferrara Bakery (195 Grand Street): Originally opened in 1892, Ferrara Bakery has continued to run for over 100 years and is still family owned and run. Today, it is managed by the fifth generation of the Ferrara family. The bakery is known for its espresso and various cakes, including tiramisu.
Alleva Dairy (188 Grand Street): Pina Alleva opened Alleva Dairy after coming to New York from Italy. Today, it is run by her great-grandson. Alleva is known for its fresh cheeses and pastas.
Da Gennaro Restaurant (129 Mulberry Street): Previously known as Umberto’s Clam House, this restaurant is the site of the famous shooting of “Crazy Joe” Gallo.
Di Palo’s (200 Grand Street): Originally opened in 1910 as a dairy store by Salvino Di Palo, the store now serves foods of all kinds including cheeses, sausages, and pastas. Workers are known for frequent trips back to Italy in attempts to bring authentic tastes to the city.
Mulberry Street Cigars (140 Mulberry Street): The cigar spot was previously known as the Hawaiian Moonlighters Social Club, a frequent hotspot for famous mobster Joe Gotti and other members of the Gambino family.
The Italian American Museum (189 Grand Street) and the previous site of Banca Stabile (155 Mulberry Street): Banca Stabile served as a link for Italian immigrants to their homeland. It offered banking, translators, mortgages, money-wiring, various forms of insurance, and information about international travel. The Italian American Museum now aims to educate the community and tourists on the struggles Italian Americans faced in New York City.
Onieals (174 Grand Street): Onieals is a restaurant known for its seafood, especially its $1 oyster special on Mondays. In the early days of Little Italy, street carts selling oysters and other seafoods were common. This restaurant embraces these roots and serves as a cheap place for tourists to get the Italian food experience.
Through further conversations with shop owners, particularly Ernesto Rossi from E. Rossi & Co, the early values of family and work were once again evident as Rossi began to explain that, “[he and his family] will be keeping the shop open until someone takes the keys out of [his] hands.” Despite the ever changing demographics of Little Italy and its function within New York City, older residents such as Rossi, of E. Rossi & Co. still express an undying connection to their culture that makes them stay in the area in order to keep the Italian traditions alive. Both the personality of Rossi himself and his shop are treasures to be found in Little Italy. Not only does Rossi’s shop house antique Italian items ranging from nativity sets for Christmas to Italian flags, but he also provides newer items for the younger tourist visitors such as Italian coffee makers. While Rossi is able to adapt to the new wants and needs of younger generations of Italians and tourists, he still wears his pride for his culture on his sleeve, as evidenced by his humorous “Parking for Sicilians Only” sign hung proudly outside his shop. However, situated right next to this is another iconic sign that shows Rossi’s love for playing on New York Italian stereotypes, and reads “If you taka my space I breaka you face.”
