Balducci's

Gourmet Grocery Store Founder Nina Balducci Dies at 91 | Eater NY

"After joining Andy’s father at his produce market in Greenwich Village, the business was transformed from an open-air produce shop into a gourmet food store in 1972; the store at Sixth Avenue and Ninth Street became one of the first importers of prosciutto di Parma and reportedly introduced broccoli rabe to California, and it sold imported cheeses, charcuterie, breads, and pastries. A 52-page color catalog that I mention here helped the brand go national, and the shop ultimately became the model for later gourmet stores like Citarella, Zabar’s, and Dean & DeLuca. Although the couple sold the company in 1999 and its New York City presence has dwindled to a single “on the go” Manhattan outpost, Balducci still operates eight full-service stores along the East Coast." - Tanay Warerkar