Two brothers. One suitcase. One simple dream.

That’s how it all began back in 1921, when Giuseppe left Enna, Sicily to reunite with his brother, Gaetano, who had come to America one year earlier. Gaetano’s position at the Stetson hat company afforded them the opportunity to save enough money to open a small, humble bakery in the heart of South Philadelphia. After a year of accumulating whatever funds they could, the dream became a reality. The original site was established, 1514 South 8th Street, across the street from our current main store and bakery shop. The two brothers’ tireless work ethic, in conjunction with their commitment to reinvesting their time and revenue, allowed them to build a tradition and reputation for quality that has lasted for generations.

Giuseppe and his only son, Vincent Sr., worked side by side from the time Vincent Sr. was a young boy, which allowed him to learn the key to his father’s success. It was not a secret recipe nor a state of the art piece of machinery. The key to Giuseppe’s success was simple: have a passion for what you do and make a commitment to be the best at whatever you undertake. In 1976, after over 50 years of unrivaled dedication to the business, Giuseppe passed the business to his son, Vincent Sr.

Today, the third generation of the family business, Joesph and Vincent Jr., continue the tradition that their grandfather and father entrusted to them. Just like their father before them, both men started working in the bakery at a very young age. The family legacy of hard work and attention to detail still serves as the cornerstone to its success. The business has grown to four retail stores and an online storefront, yet all production remains in the original shop so as to maintain the highest level of quality and consistency. Every day, the two brothers, along with their parents, Vincent Sr. and Barbara, work collaboratively to insure that the vision of the founders is upheld: To build a tradition and reputation of quality to last for the generations.