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January 1943. "New York, New York. Italian-Americans on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Italian grocery store owned by the Ronga brothers on Mulberry Street." Acetate negative by Marjory Collins for the Office of War Information. View full size.
Are you kidding?!?
This photo is a dead ringer for Arrigoni's Market (long gone) in my home town.
I can still smell that wonderful mix of meats and cheeses, along with the amazing clutter of "exotic" deli and packaged items.
I long for anything remotely like this in modern California (south Bay Area)!
Just noticed the counter card for the March of Dimes celebrating the president's birthday. Interesting that everyone was apparently aware that FDR had polio even though they never showed him on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Is somewhat obnoxious to those walking into that establishment. I would imagine those who may not be familiar with all the odors coming from the rafters it would seem overwhelming to their senses.
But I will have some prosciutto please!
No sir, you have the Ronga address.
Talking with their hands. Not to be stereotyping or anything.
Maybe your boys came in here, and maybe they didn't.
Looks like three flashbulbs -- one is showing, clamped to that high shelf. Wonder if anyone in the world can do that kind of location shooting nowadays, and have it come out this perfectly. Wonder how consistently she could do it.
[Floodlights. - Dave]
Ah -- so those are the power cords running up to the visible light. That makes more sense.
Actually it could be both, since the Borsalino company, with its trademarked eponymous hat, also makes fedoras. I stand to be corrected, but I'd say Signore Ronga's is a fedora, prized for brims that can be adjusted up or down, or both, for your signature look.
Where I grew up in Pennsylvania there was the same sparkling white scale and aproned owner. Oh, the smell and the doorbell tinkling. What a simpler time.
Mulberry, running north and south, is not a particularly long street. Today, the very southern end is inside Chinatown. But, as you cross Hester Street, you are back in the Ronga Brothers' old neighborhood.
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