This is part of a series about Hoboken that will run twice a month in the Current and the Hoboken Reporter. It will feature long established family owned and operated businesses that add to the charm of our fair city.
Biggie’s Clam Bar at 318 Madison Street has been keeping locals happy for 60 years. Tucked on a quiet tree-lined back street, the restaurant is known for its Boardwalk style food and friendly atmosphere.
Here, everyone is treated like family – by members of the Yaccarino family, who have operated the famous eatery since 1946.
All in the family
Four generations have worked hard to provide customers with quality food in a comfortable atmosphere. In 2002, the restaurant received an award for “Family Business of the Year,” and also a proclamation from Mayor Roberts.
Locals come for the food, which includes tasty steamed or raw littleneck clams, char broiled burgers, and delicious cheesesteaks, and come back for the friendly service.
The patriarch and founder Joseph “Biggie” Yaccarino came to the United States in 1900 from Italy. Before becoming a restaurateur, he performed a comedy act under the stage name Biggie. Then in 1941, he began going from bar to bar selling clams out of a bucket, which grew into a pushcart business, and before long Biggie expanded to 318 Madison Street in 1946.
Biggie and his wife Rose had seven children. In 1965, the business was passed to their son Michael, who is known to everyone as “Brother.” Brother took over operations with his wife Marie and their two daughters Rose Marie and Judy.
Brother is part of the reason regulars love the place. A charismatic man, he makes a point to make everyone feel welcome.
“Every customer is treated like a king or a queen,” said Brother Yaccarino.
According to daughter Rose Marie Ranuro, she said her father has “the gift of people.”
“He just has the gift of people,” said Ranuro. “He takes to every kind of person. People from very different backgrounds are all respectful to him. They enjoy him.”
According to Ranuro, Biggie’s was more than just a place of work for the family.
“We all worked there,” said Ranuro. “We assembled there. We grew up there.”
Her earliest memory is of a summer night behind the counter “serving lines and lines of people.”
Family values
According to Ranuro, her parents taught her the importance of hard work, which is something she has instilled in her sons Michael, 20, and Steven, 17, who also work at the family business.
“Our whole lives revolved around the restaurant,” said Ranuro, “it revolved around work.”
Growing up, Rose Marie and Judy came to the restaurant after school.
“We did our homework there,” said Ranuro. “We’re a close knit family.”
According to Ranuro, she remembers her grandfather Biggie seemed big to her.
“My grandfather would sit outside and slice the watermelon with ease,” said Ranuro. “He had such a presence about him. Whereas my father is magnetic.”
Watching her parents work, she learned the value of commitment and service.
“It really has continued throughout my entire life,” said Ranuro. “Those principles I apply to my own life.”
In addition to working in the family business, Ranuro went to nursing school and became a nurse practitioner with a Master’s in pediatric care.
According to Brother Yaccarino, he is proud of his family, who in addition to providing good customer service has provided a service to the community as well.
Members of the Yaccarino clan have moved on to become a policeman, a fire captain, a nurse, an accountant, a doctor, a priest, a legal assistant and a customer service representative.
The fourth generation
Since 1996, Rose Marie and her husband Steve Ranuro have overseen operations, although Brother still works behind the counter two days a week. In addition to attending school, both of her sons work at Biggie’s on weekends and during the summer. According to Ranuro, it was her son Steven who helped update operations by designing a website, adding delivery service, and accepting credit cards.
Eventually, Steven plans to take the helm, which includes plans to add a second floor and to add sushi to the menu.
A recent change was to make the menu a little healthier, since customers are health conscious now. They added salads and grilled chicken or fish sandwiches to their staple of quality food. They also added wine and beer for families that wanted to enjoy a cocktail with their food, but never dessert.
“People never wanted dessert,” said Ranuro. “The unanimous answer is – we can’t fit a thing.”
Yet even though some things have changed, the family’s commitment to service hasn’t. According to Ranuro, any day of the week customers will see a member of their large family including her cousins. Her mother still makes the meatballs that customers love.
And her father Brother continues to delight customers with his friendly smile and conversation.
“You feel special here,” said Ranuro. “You feel like you are at home – like you are eating with your relatives. They love it. They enjoy being acknowledged.”
Anniversary party
The family has a party planned for the sixtieth anniversary. On September 17th, the celebration will include a block party and a clam shucking competition, along with some menu items from 1946. Mayor Roberts is awarding Biggie’s another proclamation for their continued reputation and service to Hoboken.
According to Brother Yaccarino, the family is grateful for the town’s support.
“Hoboken has been very good to me,” said Yaccarino.
Biggie’s Clam Bar is located at 318 Madison St. in Hoboken. For more information, please call (201) 656-2161 or visit: www.biggiesclambar.com.