A Stroll Through Little Italy in New York City

Alleva Dairy Shop established in 1892 and Piemonte Ravioli Shop established in 1920 are located on Grand Street in Little Italy. ©Elizabeth Holmes

3/7/22

Exploring a neighbord with my camera is one of my favorite ways to learn about the neighborhood’s cultural past. Little Italy is a great place to explore because of it rich immigrant history. It was once a 50 square-block section of the Lower East Side in Downtown Manhattan where Italian immigrants settled from the late 19th century through the early 20th century.  Now it is a neighborhood of a few blocks stretching along Mulberry Street between Broome and Canal, but it still includes some of New York’s oldest shops located on the street level of tenement buildings still populating the neighborhood.

Here are some of the photos I have taken that have given me a deeper appreciation of Little Italy’s cultural legacy and its strong sense of place.

La Bella Ferrara Bakery at 108 Mulberry in Little Italy opened its doors in 1970. ©Elizabeth Holmes

E. Rossi & Company gift shop at 193 Grand Street in Little Italy was established in 1910. ©Elizabeth Holmes

Mulberry Street Bar in Little Italy since 1908. ©Elizabeth Holmes

A view of tenement buildings along Broome Street in Little Italy and the Big City of Dreams mural by artist Triston Eaton. ©Elizabeth Holmes

Grotta Azzurra Ristorante on Mulberry Street in Little Italy was founded in 1908. ©Elizabeth Holmes .

Napoli Caffe established in 1972 on Mulberry and Hester Street in Little Italy. ©Elizabeth Holmes

Casa Bella at 127 Mulberry Street and Hester in Little Italy. ©Elizabeth Holmes

Welcome to Little Sign on Mulberry Street in Little Italy. ©Elizabeth Holmes

Mural of Audrey Hepburn by artist Eaton Tristan on the facade of Caffe Roma at 385 Mulberry in Little Italy. ©Elizabeth Holmes

Mulberry Street Cigar Co. at 140 Mulberry Street in Little Italy ©Elizabeth Holmes

Dipalo Fine Foods at 200 Grand Street in Little Italy is family owned and operated since 1925. ©Elizabeth Holmes

Piemonte Ravioli at 190 Grand Street in Little Italy was established in 1920. ©Elizabeth Holmes

Puglia Restaurant at 189 Hester Street in Little Italy since 1919. ©Elizabeth Holmes

Ferrara Bakery & Cafe famous Italian bakery and cafe in Little Itarly since 1892. ©Elizabeth Holmes