My Archive Spring 2019

"This is a family photograph of my grandfather, Andrew Bambace who was born in Calabria, Italy in 1900. He immigrated to America in 1920. Our family comes from a region rich in agriculture, so fruits and vegetables is what he knew. He literally built a push cart out of discarded wood and sold apples and oranges. He would push from West 4th Street to 34th Street. Then the great depression came, and he had to abandon his cart. He then roasted chestnuts on a corner of 34th Street. It became increasingly difficult to survive, but he managed to save for ship passage and in 1928 he returned to Italy, discouraged but not about to give up on his American dream. He married in 1931, sold a small piece of land and in 1934 he came back to New York and opened this store in the photograph at 10 Cornelia Street (between Bleecker and West 4th Street). “Nonno” lived right up the street in a 6th-floor walk-up, 165 West 4th Street."

"That little fruit and vegetable store was patronized by many locals and some of them were the young, struggling writers, artists and actors of the day. My mother helped out in the store and she would tell us about these “regulars.” Eva Marie Saint and her then-boyfriend Jeff, (who she eventually married), Robert Culp and James Broderick. Also, the actor Dean Jagger (who played the General in the film “White Christmas”) were “Nonno’s customers”. My mother was very artistic and sometimes she would hang her paintings and drawings in the store. Dean Jagger bought one of them. They all shopped at Nonno’s because he always carried the best vegetables and fruit. When they asked him where did he get such fine quality produce, he would answer “I grow everything on my roof and window sill” and they believed him!"

"Greenwich Village was populated with many Italian immigrants, and the narrow Village streets were bustling with Italian shops, my grandfather’s being one of them. He wanted to expand to a larger location on 8th Street, but he did not have enough money, (he continued to support his many siblings in Calabria who were impoverished and broken by the war). The 8th Street property was bought by his competitor, Mr. Balducci. My grandfather’s little store closed in 1963 after one of his daughters died suddenly, and then his health deteriorated. Growing up, I have fond memories of walking up Sixth Avenue with my Grandfather. He would hold my hand and as we made our way past 14th Street he would recount his many journeys on foot all the way uptown to meticulously choose his produce. I also vividly recall the aroma of the potted basil plants facing the sun on his kitchen windowsill on West 4th Street. Grandfather’s store never had an official name, but everyone in Greenwich Village knew where to go for the best produce and lively conversation with a charming, beloved shop keeper named Andrew."

—Mary Lofaro