That Color

Before this site was actually launched in March, 2006, I had already decided to feature Vesuvio Bakery as my very first posting - see here. There were a number of reasons - this place was so absolutely iconic - it had history, charm and was family owned by a member of the Italian community surrounding it. And a good product. In short, I could think of nothing that could better represent an aspect of the city that New Yorker's love. It's image graced many brochures along with my business card for this website. Today it becomes the first establishment I feature twice - an obituary of sorts - Vesuvio closed in February, 2009.
Vesuvio Bakery was opened in 1920 by Nunzio and Jennie Dapolito. Their son Anthony was born the same year on nearby Houston Street. He was the oldest of five boys and began delivering bread from a horse-drawn bread wagon (in 1937, the family acquired a truck). Anthony ran the bakery until 2002 when he sold it to Lisa and Christine Gigante (his sisters-in-law), who reopened it as a bakery/cafe, adding a few tables and small menu. Their bread continued to be baked in their coal oven.
Anthony became a well known political activist, carrying the unofficial title "mayor of Greenwich Village." His bakery became an informal meeting place for community members. He served on the community board and fought for numerous causes, including work with Jane Jacobs against the highly controversial NYC urban planner Robert Moses.
Anthony died at age 82 in 2003.
And I must admit one of the many secret reasons that I (and many others) love this place - that color ...

Related Postings: Vesuvio, Jane Jacobs.