Many changes have made people forget the South Main Street of years ago and the businesses that existed here. It is hard to remember just what Pepes, Ortones, Orchid Florist, Nardelli's, and many others looked like. We want to help you remember a little bit about Nardelli's Grocery Store and the grinders that they made famous.

In 1914, three brothers left a small town in Italy in search of better life in America. Like many other immigrants they were young, ambitious, and frightened but learned very quickly to survive.

Joseph, the oldest, worked in a sweatshop to support his brothers, Anthony and Fred. Soon, all three were working. They worked long hours and pooled whatever money they had to send back home to help their parents. Poor working conditions caused Joe to lose his finger in the shop, and he swore he would take his brothers and find new work. Soon they were working in what eventually became Nardelli's Grocery Store on South Main.

Continue