By Patricia DiNieri
Angelo Scalzo, an Italian immigrant from Gimigliano, Italy, founded Scalzo’s Restaurant in Niagara Falls, New York, in 1906. Originally located at Memorial Parkway and East Falls Street, it was destroyed by fire. During the 1970′s it reopened at 1602 Pine Avenue. (Click on images to enlarge)
The Palermo Family
By Michelle Ann Kratts
I had heard of the Palermo chickens from my grandmother. Everyone bought Palermo chickens. They were usually still alive, in cages. You picked one. They butchered it right there and you took it home. My grandmother said the chicken soup from a Palermo chicken was heavenly. The broth was golden. The frozen store-bought chickens we purchase today just cannot compare to a Palermo chicken.
So, I sought out the story of the Palermo chickens. Who were the Palermo’s? How did they start selling chickens? There was also a Palermo’s Restaurant.
Many of Niagara’s Italians first began their careers in the food industry as grocers. The Palermo family was no different. One of the earliest references to this family was in the Niagara Falls City Directory of 1910, listing Felix Palermo, 494 20th Street, grocer. Felix (also called Felice, Phil, or Philip) had several brothers who came to America from Italy. According to censuses, directories and obituaries, there were at least five brothers: Felix, Salvatore, Joseph, Charles and Nicholas Palermo. There were also at least three sisters (with married names): Maria Pugliese, Lucy Gallina, and Rose Mangione. Felix, Joseph and Nicholas may have been the only brothers to live in Niagara Falls. Early records show many variations on the surname such as Palmero and Palarino.
Felix, possibly the oldest sibling, was born in September of 1878, in Italy. He came to the United States in 1891 and lived in Niagara Falls for 59 years before his death on July 18, 1965. He and his wife, Maria Riggi, had two sons: Joseph and Charles Palermo. They also had two daughters: Jennie Amato and Josephine Viscuglia.
Felix was an enterprising man. It might also be stated that he certainly had his share of pluck. For several years, he did, indeed, operate a grocery business from 494 20th Street. According to Niagara Falls City Directory records he did so from 1910 until 1913. In 1913 he opened a saloon at 2007 Ferry Avenue. This address would be associated with Felix for most of his life…and would be the site of some commotion from time to time. For once the 18th Amendment and Prohibition was enacted life would change for proprietors of taverns and saloons—especially for Felix Palermo. Almost immediately, the business operated out of 2007 Ferry Avenue transformed from a saloon to Palermo and Co. Bottling Works where soda and carbonated drinks were manufactured….along with other more risqué beverages. On July 6, 1927, it was reported that Federal Prohibition agents had raided a “wildcat brewery” at 2007 Ferry Avenue. Upon the premises, owned by Felix Palermo, agents seized various illicit equipment worth about $20,000. Apparently the building was constructed to resemble a ten-car garage. “Doors opened on the front, but a brick wall from floor to ceiling set off the interior of the building.” Very crafty business! No one was arrested, however, “samples of the brew were taken” and city police were requested to guard the place. A raid by federal agents in 1930 brought more trouble to Felix. On April 1st, he was arrested and charged with violating prohibition law by being in possession of intoxicants. Four barrels of home brew beer were found on the premises. Others were also arrested during this raid. Interestingly enough, according to the Niagara Falls City Directory from 1928, there were almost 200 soft drinkeries in the city of Niagara Falls during this time period. It’s only natural to wonder if many of these businesses were also secretly manufacturing alcoholic beverages.
During the later part of the 1920’s, the Palermo’s officially became involved with the poultry business with the creation of the Live Poultry Market, located at 431 19th Street and 1128 Falls Street, which was managed by Reginald Palermo. Although it is unknown if Felix was a part of this operation, he did hold the world championship as a chicken-plucker. According to accounts in the Niagara Falls Gazette he could strip a fowl of its feathers in less than four seconds. The New York Post even reported his strange skills in an article from January 22, 1935. Contests were held annually in the City Market. Felix’s brother, Salvatore, had established a record in Buffalo, as well, only to be beaten by Felix. Salvatore operated a poultry store at 145 Busti Avenue in Buffalo.
By 1934, Palermo’s Restaurant was officially established –although Felix’s obituary states that he had been serving food since 1926. Felix and his wife, Maria, managed Palermo’s until his retirement in 1945. Felix passed away on July 18, 1965 at the Restwell Nursing Home on Buffalo Avenue in Niagara Falls. He was buried at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Maria Riggi Palermo, Felix’s wife, died several years before him, on November 20, 1963 at Memorial Hospital. Maria was also buried at St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
As for Palermo’s chicken market, the directories and censuses of Niagara Falls shed some light on various locations and owners of the family-operated business. Along with Reginald (who is documented as the first manager), there were other Palermos connected to the business in 1927 and 1928: Salvatore and Joseph Palermo, residing at 453 19th Street; and Nicholas Palermo, another manager of Live Poultry Market, was listed as residing at 1128 Falls Street. By 1929 the directory notes that “Reginald moved to New York City.” He is never mentioned again. By 1931, Felix and Clara and Joseph and Theresa are operating the Niagara Live Poultry Company out of 451 19th Street. Through the 1930’s Niagara Live Poultry was located at both locations. By 1938 Niagara Live Poultry was at 1800 Pine Avenue at the City Market. However Joseph and Son were still operating out of the 451 19th Street shop. During the war years, Niagara Live Poultry was located at 625 18th Street and Joseph Palermo dealt poultry from 451 19th Street. By 1949 another location was added—708 19th Street. Felix and Clara ran this business.
To our knowledge there are no longer any members of the Palermo family operating poultry businesses in the Niagara area. In fact, many of the sites mentioned have been bulldozed long ago. But the memories of the Palermo chickens, and the recipes, live on in Niagara’s history.
Fratello Brothers Grocery and Meat Market
By Marcia Buzzelli
Cosimo SanFratello left his home in Caltavuturo, Sicily in 1894. He arrived in Niagara Falls, NY, a 21 year old man, and needed to work. In about 1896, he opened his first grocery store with a partner, Mr. Pellicano located at Main and Linwood.
In about 1900, he married Antonia D’Anna a young girl from the same town in Sicily. She was living with her family in the city of Mt. Morris, NY. Together, they had 12 children and eventually his sons would be running the store. The oldest was Charles born in 1901, in Niagara Falls. The information and picture were given to me by his daughter Charlotte (Fratello) Tompkins. In 1903, Cosmino became a naturalized citizen. Sometime later he shortened his last name to Fratello.
Between 1896 and 1910, Cosimo had different stores with different partners. In 1910, he bought property at 128 Eleventh Street and had a building constructed. The first floor was a store and upstairs was an apartment for his family at the time: 8 boys and 4 girls.
The picture was taken in the Eleventh Street store about 1930. Pictured are from left to right are Charles (behind the counter), Anthony (Fats), Salvatore (Tootie), and Cosimo.
Cosimo died in 1936 and his sons, Charles and Salvatore took over the running of the meat market. They were assisted part-time by their brothers, Joseph, Anthony, Dominic, and Thomas. They formed what was to become Fratello Bros. Grocery and Meat Market of Niagara Falls, specializing in tasty Italian sausage.
In 1946, the store had to move from Eleventh Street to 3010 Pine Avenue. They were forced to sell the Eleventh Street property to the city, so the building could be raised for what has now become the Niagara Frontier Transportation Garage.
In 1946, the Pine Avenue store was run solely by Charlie and Salvatore; they took in a partner, Charlie’s son-in-law, Tom Schiro. They had a successful business known throughout the city for their quality meats and sausage. You could also find friendly banter and cooking advice in the store. Their “Fratello Brothers” delivery truck could be seen daily driving through many parts of the city of Niagara Falls.
The men working in the store placed the wicker covers on their arms to cover the sleeves of their clothes. This can be seen in the picture.
Early in 1961, the store was sold to Salvatore, who ran it until January 1968, when due to health reasons sold the store to Richard and Larry Scipione. He also sold them the sausage recipe which the next generation is using today.
Scipione brothers ran the store specializing in prime quality meats. Richard’s son, Dave is now operating it as Scipione Catering in the same Pine Avenue location.
Note:
Charlotte Fratello Tompkins reports the best part of the store was that she worked at the check-out counter after school. While working there and being friendly with the stock boys she met her husband, Ken Tompkins, whose family lived on 30th Street. They probably never would have met if the store was not on Pine at 3oth Street.
The Italians of Niagara Falls 