Throughout the region and the United States, there are cultural Little Italys, where the mass immigration of the early 1900s of cultural Italians from the shores of Italy adopted our country. From these early settlers came their children, the first Italian-Americans, and the cultural, social and commercial enclaves that grew up around them. Cannillo’s Italian Food Center on Bergenline Avenue in West New York is one of them! Brothers Joseph and Angelo Giambona, who worked for the Cannillo Family since 1974 and 1977 respectively, and learned the business from the bottom up, purchased the business from them in 1991 and kept the business family-name for the sake of community continuity!
The Giambona Brothers both live in Secaucus, and Joseph is married to his lovely wife Helen, and they have two children named Larisa and Julia. As for Angelo, he is a bachelor, for all you lovely bachelorettes out there reading this column! Their lovely mother Maria is 84 years young, and their sister Serafina (Sara) is married to Anthony DeRienzo, and they have two children named Catie and Mickey, and also live in Secaucus, and all help out in the business-kitchen part-time, when needed. Their loving father Frank is now deceased. Brother Joseph tells us that he was born in Capaci, Sicily, Italy. Angelo tells us that he was born in Wallsall, England and therefore is also a British Subject to Queen Elizabeth, too! The Brothers are also graduates of North Bergen High School and they formerly lived in North Bergen. Joseph attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City in the late 1970s, and Angelo has a bachelor’s degree in Theater and Television Arts from Rutgers University/Newark in 1984.
The brothers boast that their food center serves 25 people for breakfast, lunch and dinner and can cater to parties up to 1,000 people! Old timers and newcomers also shop at the food center for imported Italian cold cuts, tomatoes from the San Marzano region of Italy, their specialty imported sharp provolone, which they age themselves in their shop for up to a year or more, and they also make their own dough for personal/Bar Pizza Pies for their customers!
They also have imported olive oils and pasta and also make their own mozzarella cheese and Italian pastries! Around Easter time, they make the traditional Pizza Piena and the Pizza Granna, made from wheat, like an Italian cheese cake! They also have imported green and red peppers and mushrooms from which they make stuffed-peppers and stuffed-mushrooms. They have imported anchovies and olives, as well as balsamic vinegars. During Lent, they also serve salmon, tilapia and filet of fish, as well as throughout the year. They serve generous portions and great quality and are known for their generous helpings to customers. They serve soups and salads, and cappuccino, espresso and regular coffee to their daily customers.
The brothers tell us that they are also famous for their Roast Beef-medium rare Italian heroes, which has no “brown rings” around their cuts of beef and which is infused with 12 herbs and spices and is a secret family recipe, not shared with the public! Their Pizza Piena Pie is a 100-year-old recipe that they obtained from the Cannillo Family/prior owners and their Easter Pies are purchased by Hobokenites who love this traditional type of pie, as well as other Hudson County customers!
The Giambona Brothers also tell us that they recently celebrated the food center’s “64th Anniversary” in March and coincidentally, they are located at 64th St. along Bergenline Ave. in West New York! As a matter of fact, they still have customers and their families who shopped there 64 years ago who came back for the anniversary celebration! As well as serving hot Italian dishes like Baked Ziti, Lasagna, Ravioli and Manicotti, they guarantee that any customer who orders a “Hot Buffet” for 15 people will also receive a free tray of fresh mozzarella and tomato Caprese salad as a bonus! Customers have long spoken of their two sign props called the Mona Lisa and her consort named Michelangelo, so named because brother Angelo was born on Saint Michael’s Day, which falls on September 29th each year. These props are humorous but eye-catching sales signs!
As for the customers, Joseph and Barbara Mantineo of West New York tell us that they have been shopping there for many years, and Joe’s parents before him, and that they call in for their groceries and pick them up afterwards as well as eat in for lunch! Mr. Mantineo is the president of the Hudson County Vocational-Technical Education Association/NJEA. Brian Graschino, Chairman of the Guttenberg Planning/Zoning Board, tells us that he shops there once a week, and the Italian food is terrific. Mr. Graschino is also known as Guttenberg’s Athletic living legend! The food center opens for breakfast at 8 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, as well as on Saturday. On Fridays, they are open until 7 p.m. and on Sundays, they are open until 1 p.m. Open seven days a week, now that’s Italian! To the Giambona Brothers who now own Cannillo’s Italian Food Center – All the Best!!!..
Old friend Joseph Chasmer, a 35-year veteran employee at the Union City Department of Public Works, tells us that he and his lovely wife Susan will be celebrating their 32nd wedding anniversary this coming November, and that their son David will be celebrating his one year anniversary as a patrolman in the Union City Police Department this June! Furthermore, their daughter Jaimee is now a Freshman at Rutgers University/New Brunswick Campus. Best wishes to the Chasmer Family!!!…
Kristin N. Bruno and Stephanie Ann Buchta recently achieved their undergraduate degrees from Drew University/Madison Campus and both are from North Bergen. Best of luck in your future!!!…
Weehawken Finest!!! William “Bill” Weyer, a Weehawken Police Patrolman, tells us that he has been a member of the force for 12 years and has a lovely wife and two children. What he likes about being a policeman is the peacekeeping aspect of the job, and he likes to see citizens being safe. A very good attitude to have, keep up the great work!!!…and so it goes…until next time…see you around town… “MATT.”
Please note: Readers who would like to contribute to this Column can do so by mailing your news items and photographs along with our name, address and telephone number to“Matthew Amato,” Columnist, c/o The Hudson Reporter, 1400 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ 07030. Thank you.