Meet Lisa!

When you walk into our store, Manganaro Foods, you take a step back in time. Worn but spotless wooden floors creak beneath your feet while imported ham, cheeses, and provoletti hang from the rafters over your head. And, aahhh, the aroma. Your nose will tell you you're in the right place! our guess what amazes me the most is that even though business has grown over the years, it's basically still the same store that my great-uncle started years ago. The rich, colorful history attached to this store and this neighborhood will help you understand what Manganaro Foods and our family are all about.

Manganaro Foods was established in 1910 when my greatuncle, James Manganaro, made his way from Italy to New York. He came to work for his uncle, Ernest Petrucci, who had owned and operated Petrucci's Wine and Liquor store on Ninth Avenue since 1893. In 1914 Great-uncle James was drafted, but he returned to the store after his military service. Soon, James decided to open an imported Italian food shop two blocks from his uncle's liquor store. When Prohibition took effect, James moved his food operation to his uncle's store-our present location at 488 Ninth Avenue, New York, New York.

Manganaro Foods flourished, and eventually Uncle James was joined by his brother, Louis. In the early 1920s they sent for their sister, Nina (my grandmother), and mother, Michaela (my great-grandmother). It was during these early years that the Ninth Avenue neighborhood was known as Hell's Kitchen. As its name suggested, it was a pretty rough area, inhabited mainly by Irish and Italian immigrants.

But the character of the area didn't hurt the Manganaro business. In fact, the store was a popular gathering spot for opera stars. Back then, the Metropolitan Opera was located near the store. Uncle James couldn't have been happier-he loved the opera! All of the opera performers would descend upon Manganaro Foods to refuel their creative talents with great Italian food, and, as Uncle James soon discovered, opera stars have very healthy appetites!

Soon it was time to start a family so the traditions brought over from Italy could be carried on. In 1924 my grandmother, Nina Manganaro, married my grandfather, Anthony Dell'Orto. They lived above the store and became the proud parents of four healthy sons, one of whom became my father, Sal. As Sal grew up, he and his brother, Vincent, were a major part of the family venture.

In 1949 my father, Sal Dell'Orto, married my mother, Marion D'Angelo. In no time at all they had five daughters, of whom I am the eldest. I remember growing up around the store and getting in everyone's way. I loved the smell of the fresh imported cheeses and sausages. I would watch my father for hours as he sliced meat paper-thin and made sandwiches for hungry customers. I would patiently wait for him to give me a sandwich (which he never did). He was the all-time best sandwhich maker. He still is.

It wasn't until I was sixteen or seventeen years old that I began working at the store. Like everyone else who starts at Manganaro's I was assigned first to the kitchen, making sandwiches and salads. Soon I graduated to hot foods and eventually worked behind the front counter. It was a good training process and prepared me well for running the business today.

Our customers are willing to try all kinds of different foods. My favorite part of this business is making a new, special dish so I can listen to everyone tell me how delicious it is! I make it a point to change our menu according to the seasons. In the spring we serve many fresh vegetables, veal and lamb. In the summer we offer our customers pesto, fresh mozzarella, and plump tomatoes. Fall usually means Pasta Fagioli and Minestrone, and in the winter we dish out plenty of hearty polenta and potato dishes.

Since Manganaro Foods was founded, our neighborhood has undergone many changes. In the early 1940s, construction on the Lincoln tunnel forced thousands of families to move from the area. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, many people packed up and headed for the suburbs.

Despite all the transitions, Manganaro's is still a thriving family business. You can stop in almost anytime and see that there is mass confusion, but we're having fun. My father usually opens the store every morning at 8:00, and on good days I arrive between 9:30 and 11:00. My first priority is to make myself a cappuccino. Then I walk around and make everyone laugh before I get down to business.

Besides my father and me, my sisters, Linda, Nina, Marissa, and Lisa help out whenever they can. Of course, it's a little crazy when we are all there contributing our talents, but it's great fun.

We're a proud family and we are working hard to carry on Great-uncle James's dream. In the years to come I hope I am doing the same thing, only better. (My second choice is to move to a sunny, beautiful beach somewhere in Mexico.)

We've been at 488 Ninth Avenue for a long time and intend to be here for a lot longer. So if you're ever in New York on Ninth Avenue between Thirty-seventh and Thirty-eighth Streets, stop by and say hello. We would love to meet you and serve you some of our delicious Italian food.

Buen Appetito!

Seline Dell'Orto