My grandparents lived on mullberry back in the 30s, i love these stories. The thing is nobody tells the story of little italy. The closest we have is scorseses' "Italianamerican" its a such a shame nobody has wanted to tell the story of little italy. So thanks for this. Ive really loved these episodes.
I left NY 9 years ago. I miss Cafe Palermo. NY changed, and not for the better. When I left, Little Italy was already almost gone. Bread in the Bronx is not the same either. It’s so sad.
@@PaulStoneFilms I am so glad that you did. Thank you so very much. I should fly back to NY just for one more cannoli from Cafe Palermo. They make the best cannoli in all of North America hands down!
The Albanians have kept up a decent job of keeping a lot of good pizza places open. Most people I knew didn't want to be in New York starting in the 2000s.
Sad but true. Little Italy in Manhattan is all but gone. Fortunately Little Italy in the Bronx still seems to be alive and well. Haven't been to the feast of San Gennaro in decades, since they started with all the international stuff.
@@PaulStoneFilmsyes ,true. Leichhardt in Sydney’s inner west is going the same way. Italians from post WW2 settled there and now generations since have assimilated and moved on.
Word, I remember back in the days my father used to take me to little Italy. Mind you I'm First generation American, my dad is from Colombia and my mom is from El salvabor, and i was raised in Bensonhurst Brooklyn. So I know my way around an Italian menu, but now every time i bring people from out of town to little Italy i always tell them "this ain't the Little Italy i remember"
Amazing film. I’m a long time New Yorker, born to a Jewish dad and catholic mom from the Bronx. Spent a lot of fun times downtown growing up. The Jewish neighborhood has completely disappeared, Chinatown has completely changed but still retains its character and little Italy has become such a hardcore tourist attraction in its condensed version, older generations like myself might find it a bit too intense and disorienting. Any time you can record history, it’s a gift to future generations that would otherwise not know what existed before. Thank you 😍
My husband and I used to live in Union City NJ in the 90s and we'd frequently go to Mulberry Street as we went to a barber shop near Christopher Street; we've had "The Cannoli King's" cannoli a few times. They're delicious and just like the ones I remember from my own "Little Italy" in Chicago where we had Lezza's bakery, Ferrara pastry. I'd "kill" for a real cannoli now because we have lived in Indianapolis, Indiana for 24 years and we retired from our jobs here. Sure it's cheaper than The City for sure but unless I do the 3 hour schlep up to Chicago, there are no cannoli; "The Cannoli King" brought back so many memories of my 1950s childhood in Chicago's Little Italy, was just like The Cannoli King described; I'm sorry I couldn't understand his last name in the video but he is a good story teller. Bravo, grazie tanto, auguri!
Truly sad. I grew up in NYC and spent a lot of time in Little Italy. I used to drive a bread truck for a bakery on Elizabeth Street. I went to every Feast of San Genaro during the 70's and 80's. A lot of memories and special times. Now lost to greed and the erasing of history. RJ
It's not just Little Italy that's being erased. Communities all across America have become shadows of what they once were, if they even exist at all. Manhattan's Little Italy has a name, mostly as a tourist spot. The heart and soul of the neighborhood has long moved away to greener pastures. I suppose this is the American story, a constant shifting people in search of the good life... somewhere else. I'm one of them. Hats off to those whose roots hold them to their communities, even as their communities become mostly memories.
@@PaulStoneFilms No... I applaud you for hanging in there through all the changes. And Little Italy will never be what it was. But that''s true of everywhere.
Excellent topic. Thank you. I'm in Canada, and it's the same thing. Neighborhoods vanishing and being replaced by mediocre generic garbage. A few still remain and fight for their existence, but it's mostly now just memories.
Man, these are sad. God bless you for documenting these stories. I'm not Italian, but as an artist in the 80s and early 90s in NYC, I would frequent PEARL PAINT on Canal Street. Later I attended The Cooper Union and would meander the streets of Mulberry, Spring, and more. As a kid I recognized the history he city, too bad these younger generations and the City administration seemingly don't give a darn.
There’s nothing worse than watching a place you were born and grew up in change so much. You just feel completely helpless, as if you’re watching a dying relative on their death bed. I really wish Italy would pump some money into this neighborhood, due to keeping their heritage alive and thriving in the states, but who knows if that would even help. A lot of Italians live in the suburbs, nowadays. As he said, his kids don’t even want to go into the city to go there. I think a lot of that is do to the post covid reality of chaos in the city, too. These big cities like NYC, Chicago, Los Angeles have become unsafe and cold hellholes.
The Italians in Italy are lost on woke like most of Western Europe. Much of Western Europe looking more like Riyadh Cairo and Istanbul. But hey we have to demonize Russia and stand with Israel.😊
Literally all big cities in America like that. The guy talking about his neighborhood changing. Happened to my neighborhood too which was also Italian and a mix of Greek.
I'd say the big American city has been a cold place for a few decades but particularly so since 2001. Especially New York after 9-11. The vibe has been a dark one.
My grandparents moved from Italy to New York City back in the 20s and yes back then it was a much bigger neighborhood. They eventually moved to Brooklyn years later. So sad that most of the area is not Little Italy anymore. Better times back then. Thanks for doing this video God bless you and your family.
Born on 25 Downing Street, Our Lady of Pompeii, was my first grammar school not only remember St.Gennaro, but also smaller feasts like St. Anthony and St.Joseph. San Gennaro and Saint Anthony went from Canal to Houston
I remember when little Italy was popular with every single Italian family, we shopped for cheese , pasta and pastries as well as cooking supplies. Now I see the Chinese taking over the entire area , same goes for Bensonhurst Brooklyn and Dyker park area, completely gone are the Italian's. Rent's are crazy and once the city touches anything it destroys it and back in the day we never locked our cars or houses, so sad to hear these stories. As a boy we walked little Italy and after that visited Delancy street (Jew Town) to buy clothes and wearable items. If we can only turn back time to the good old days where you loved your neighbors and everyone looked out for each other.
Chinatown remained because the family is sacred and they are very organized. They are also taught accounting and business at a young age. The Chinese family sticks together to the end. Italians are organized but not as organized as the Asian Communities.
Heartbreaking that the city is losing an iconic and once thriving neighborhood. I was born and raised in Astoria and fondly remember my parents taking my brother and I to Canal and Mott street to buy our Easter and Christmas clothes then go to Angelos for dinner. Countless times I went to little Italy with my buddies and girlfriends. I always wondered why the Italians or Italian organizations didnt buy the buildings to protect the neighborhood.
@@richbrig3 No one could have imagined that Giuliani would gentrify the city and make it livable again. Plus most of the residents were working class people living pay check to pay check. I saw it coming and bought my piece of nyc twenty years ago. 🙏
He encompassed so much with just a few simple words..."I'm 61 I am the last generation" My generation the baby boomers, we are the last generation from a simpler time. Everyone knew their place, you worked for what you have, there was no sense of entitlement and you lived your life your way without having to force your beliefs or your life style onto other people. Today it seems that everyone has a platform or an issue or a life style and they want everyone to know about it and sometimes make you feel like you are wrong because you are just you. I don't wish for the old days to come back but I am blessed to have lived during that time and now living during these times and believe me, simpler was and will always be better.
I mean the baby boomers have had it easier than any generation in the history of the world, to paint yourself as some kind of hard working simple peasant just because so many young people are inconsiderate loudmouths… I’m a millennial and born in the mid 1980s, saw life and most of my youth without mobile phones and social media, I also saw how the baby boomers received free university education, afforded families and housing on one income etc, they gave that all away for us younger generations for fat pensions and quiet neighbourhoods to retire in. It’s not so simple. Great film btw and I’m sure you’ve seen Abel Ferrara doc on mulberry?
This is sad. The same thing happened in East New York. Everyone moved but thankfully, many of us stay in touch on Facebook. It's not the same. The saddest part? Our beautiful church, Out Lady of Loretto, the first church built by Italian Americans, was torn down with with approval of the Diocese. One very sad day.
Attending the San Gennaro Festival 2023 was a pleasure, but the crowds were overwhelming for a small-town girl like myself. It's a shame that our iconic venues are disappearing globally. Thank you for sharing 😊
KAREN THE ANGELS CHOOSE YOU THEY DECIDED THAT YOU WILL BE BEAUTIFUL THE ANGELS HAVE SPOKEN YOUR BEAUTY IS PHENOMENAL IF MICHELANGELO WERE ALIVE TODAY YOU WOULD BE HIS MUSE
I can relate to this with Norristown in Pennsylvania. There's still some fantastic Tomato Pie and Sandwich shops, but not so much Italian dominated neighborhoods with all the variety they once had. It's still an important town; just not like the past.
@@tomjones5650 Holy Savior Feast's Roast beef or was it Pork sandwiches...man oh man, yes the Hot Dogs at Montgomery Lunch (Texas Tommy's too?), Marcy's Water Ice, Lou's ; but I didn't like the fried baloney on their Steak Zep and I don't think they liked me not liking it....(Eve's for me ...back then).
Well done, great production, thank you. the story’s the same in so many places, sadly, traditions and businesses like these fade away. Even the small town in Canada my grandparents immigrated to had a strong Italian community, not many of them left there now.
Great stories, episodes, lived in NYC in the 90s, had a musician friend who lived in Mulberry. I get goosebumps at the sadness of what has happened, I can feel it in the air when I go visit my daughter who lives in Brookyn. Well done.
I’ve seen thousands of Italians talking about how they hate how it’s changed and how they wish they were back there. Someone should start a movement and create a community in the NYC/NJ area to recreate a neighborhood/community like the one they all miss. Hell, I miss it and I didn’t even grow up there.
Man what I would give to visit the neighborhood back in say 1955 😭😭 I swear I was born in the wrong generation THANK GOD I got to spend time with my grandparents and great grandparents who kept that culture and spirit alive
The crazy thing is he says that a lot of kids around there pay 3 or 4 thousand per month to live around there. The reality is that many of them pay 5 or $6,000 per month to live in that neighborhood in 2024…or their parents pay that much. Either way it’s crazy how expensive NYC has become. I made it from 2011 to 2023 in Brooklyn before letting go and moving out. My income would have to be over 200k per year to justify living there now. Definitely miss it but had a good run.
@@thru_and_thru Daddy is paying all the bills. That’s the sad part but I guess they call it progress. I had to earn every penny I e made. It was hard but that was life on the streets. It builds character.
Similar situation in sydney Australia. Now our italian area is full of Mexican and Indian restaurants. Losing its soul and a tiny little bar that seats 5 tables has to pay over 10,000 a month with 7 year leases. Impossible to make money
Chris Alleva of the Alleva family lives in Columbia, Md. and he was completely unaware of the history of his own family and its ownership of Alleva cheese. Sad!
Great video. Sad though. I was born n raised in Queens and my old neighborhood in Far Rockaway is much different now except for the NYCHA projects. Rockaway Beach is still nice.
My paternal grandparents lived on Mott and Hester. Dad grew up there. Not like it used to be. I used to go to Vincent's for scungili with the hot sauce. Then went a few blocks for Chinese. I think Ferrara's is still there. Too bad Angelo's closed. They were good.
0 seconds ago It is sad when business’s that have been there for many years close. I was a regular at Alleve and was so sad to see it close. Though , it is worth mentioning there are many new (Italian) business’s that have opened and continue to open in The area. Another series that you should consider doing is The New Little Italy , or The next Little Italy , and interview the business owners of many of the new (Italian) business’s there , who have just opened and who are opening. As old places (sadly) close , new places (happily) open. New business owners have a whole other point of view. Walking in the Neighborhood recently , I see many newer (Italian) places open , often w people directly from Italy and on various surrounding blocks , not only on Mulberry St.
@@victorsimonelli319 I agree it would be cool but once this original series is done I’m creating a new series about the Bowery. This series seems like it’s about Little Italy the place but it’s really about the people. The iconic characters that really don’t exist anymore. Young people aren’t interesting to me. 😏
Great film history. I know a fella on Grand St. Mr. Rossi has a store with all kinds of stuff. Sadly, the next Chinatown and the history will be washed down the drain.
That's too bad. However, the laws of the market favor innovation and efficiency, not tradition and feelings. Unfortunately the Little Italy businesses kept doing the same thing for too long while their customers got old, left or died. Young people have sought the novelty Little Italy didn't offer. It's too bad to see Little Italy being gradually replaced with other less traditional options. Perhaps if they seek a change of direction without losing their character they'd find a new lifeline.
Love this series. But let’s be honest. Little Italy of yesteryear was a rundown neighborhood. Hence, why our families moved out. What keeps people connected to the old neighborhood was the relationships we had, it was “family style”. But as more Italians became more successful we wanted to provide better living areas for our families to grow up in and I’m thankful for my parents and grandparents for doing so. While little Italy today is a shell of what it once was. It is celebrated even more today with the neighborhood being cleaned up, modernized, and being a fun place for tourists from all over the world to enjoy. Yes, it’s not the same, but in some ways it’s better than ever. Look at it as a great memorial for an old Italian neighborhood that once was. Ethnic neighborhoods typically just fade away over time, but the romance and charm of little Italy will probably stay for generations, even though the Italians moved out long ago.
@@donh1572 Take the date this was shot in context though. In 2015 hyper-gentrification shocked the older residents in the area with drastic change and insane increases in rent and commercial rent. A lot of older people were being coerced into moving by predatory landlords. It became increasingly harder for small businesses to survive and now we have a disneyfied shopping mall for trust fund kids, Nepo babies, and rich Euro trash.
@@PaulStoneFilms those older residents are why many Italians moved out. Their rent controlled units forced everyone else’s rent to skyrocket to cover the landlords cost. While it’s unfortunate, it also benefited most Italian families that moved out since we got bigger homes in better neighborhoods. Plus Little Italy never looked this good today . Let’s also keep in mind that rent was always insane. Even one person in this show explained how back in the early 1900’s they paid more than half of their income for slum like conditions with a shared toilet. To pine for yesteryears slum compared to todays better living conditions in that same area is crazy
It's the unintended consequences of inclusion. The city thought that they would draw more people by making it an international festival. But instead it is now far less interesting. I saw that someone else commented that this is all the result of "anti whiteness". Remember that when the city took over the festival Italians were not seen as "white". I don't even remember people referring to themselves as "Italian" when I was a child. People referred to their native area sure (Sicilian, for example) but to it was outsiders who used the blanket term "Italian" for the most part unless to indicate some kinship between different kinds of Italians as opposed to other groups. This is not at all unique to this area or people who identify as "white". In Pakistan we have countless ethnic groups and every time one group tries to do something like a food festival or a religious day in their unique way there will be 5 or 6 other groups who act behind-hurt and need to force themselves on the activity for the sake of inclusion. I don't agree with that. Feel included as a spectator sometimes. Not everything needs to include you.
The same thing happened in Toronto. The “taste of Italy”which is a weekend long event in June has little to do with Italy. I went this year after not going for a few years but I’m not going back next year. There was nothing Italian about that. It’s a shame. I know what this guy is talking about. It’s a real shame.
Great video! The Albanians own most the Italian restaurants in NYC. Little Italy is stated island, parts of Long Island & NJ now. The few Italian immigrants coming to America don’t even go to NY anymore. 95% of the feast are gone in NYC, and the culture & catholic reason for the feast are gone. Growing up in downtown Brooklyn there was a feast going on in so many neighborhoods across the city every week. Sadly That way of life is done in America, Italians lost their culture & became white Americans. Land of meatloaf, cheeseburgers & man & cheese.
Square footage is as nothing but a dollar sign in today's corporate world. The day's of mom and pop family run business in once thriving enclaves of New York is all but dead. I got out of the city ages ago and don't ever plan on going back.
@@PaulStoneFilms why would anybody want to pay such atrocious high rents? And what kind of profits do these commercial stores need to make? Come to New Jersey
@@ArmandoMirante-hj1mq the storefronts changed from cool small businesses to major big box retailers. That’s why it sux here now. But the retail zombies seem to love it. They swarm the area now. It’s a disaster.
Not Italian but respect tradition, it is a shame but he is right the area will die with him. Globalization waters down the uniqueness and qualities we all have. You been sold a bad story, tending to the same cows is much easier for governments and big business. Don’t be a cow.
Music is a little grim and gloomy - maybe some Italian music? The actual story is sad enough. Forgive me, I’m a pro musician - can’t help but notice. GREAT series.
😮I drive a bread truck in nyc everyday 7 days a week Orchards street lower east side little laity all gone no flavor any more even bialiy place taste cardboard
this shit makes me deeply deeply sad and i ain't even Italian. I'm an African born and bread. This shit is happening all across the world. Money, not people, seems to be dictating culture.
Stay the hell away from it. Not what it used to be and anyone who doesn’t know what it used to be is too young to know what the hell is being talked about.
