Before "local" was a trend it was an American way of life.
Italian immigrants took their first steps on U.S. soil in a place that has now become legend — Ellis Island. In the 1880s, they numbered 300,000; in the 1890s, 600,000; in the decade after that, more than two million.
By 1920, when immigration began to taper off, more than 4 million Italians had come to the United States, and represented more than 10 percent of the nation’s foreign-born population.
They worked in mines and on the railroads, they built subway systems and skyscrapers, and some were lucky enough to start businesses of their own — some of which remain in existence today.
Here are a handful of their stories:
My grandfather came over at age 27, and he and his brother had a shoe repair and hat business in the Hill district of Pittsburgh. He loved it here, was so thankful to become a citizen. I never got to meet him, he passed in his 60s. -Susan Castriota
My Dad and Uncle John with their sharpening truck in Brooklyn circa 1930-1940. My father came from Molise when he was 17, and Uncle John a few years later. Both made a great life for themselves and their families. Both were part of the “Greatest Generation” who served their adopted country with honor, dignity and humility. Will not see the likes of them anytime soon! God Bless the United States of America! -Michael Sampogna
My great grandfather was a small grocery store owner in MI after he and my great grandmother came to America. All nine of their children, born in America, worked in that store. In the back of the store was an old fashioned soda fountain/ice cream counter. -Robin Walker
My Great Grandfather was a master chef at the Ft. Pitt Hotel and cooked for 3 US Presidents while there. He then moved to a small mill and mining town, Burgettstown, Penn., and started a meat/grocery business that just recently sold. 100 years of cooking and small store living. I am writing a book with recipes now. -Brian Petrucci
Frank DiChristina, my grandfather, behind his bakery, DiChristina’s, on Dante Place in Buffalo, New York. His horses pulled the bread wagons. -David Salamone
Our Great Grandfather’s NY shop – 1904. -Sal Bongiorno
The Ciofalo family poses outside their shop in post-WWII Chicago. -Paul Ciofalo
My Sicilian grandparents’ grocery store on Orange Avenue in Cleveland’s Big Italy (Circa Dec. 1917). -Tony Rini
-Amanda Moore
My Dad, John, in front of his grocery store in Emerson, N.J. around 1950. -Joe Bamond
Both of my great grandfathers, on my mother’s side, came from Sicily — one farmed and ran produce stands, and the other had grocery stores. It would be cool if those places had survived, but people from my hometown still talk about “Viviano’s Tomboy” store, and it makes me proud. -Rick Melon
My parents owned a grocery store on 247 Ferry St., New Haven, CT. Amatruda’s! -Barbara Longobardi
My grandfather was a shoemaker. -Steve Leonetti
My grandfather came to America in 1911 from Calabria. He was a stonemason, and settled in West Chester, Penn. He built a lot of homes in that area, including their own. It’s still there. -Maryann Bland
My grandparents store where they lived, worked and had the family every Sunday from before 1924 until 1966. Many memories! -Toni Ann Crane Amabile
My Grandfather came over in 1903 from San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy to Chicago Heights, IL. I didn’t meet him as he died young, but I have found his/my family in Italy. I have visited them and love them very much. -Mary Kay Evans
My grandfather, father and uncle in their NJ butcher shop circa late 1940s. -Bill Magnotta
