The note on the glass was posted today. Neighbors walked by, stopping, gasping. Some cried. Caputo’s, a Carroll Gardens institution known for its bread and Italian cookies, has served its last loaf.
The bakery, family run for five generations, took a front row seat to the changing neighborhood, a longshoreman’s village, an enclave of Italian-American families— bakers, butchers, cheese mongers, pasta makers—giving way to people like me who moved to CG for the small town feel and beautiful tree-lined streets.
I moved to CG in 1991 after graduating from college to attend Brooklyn Law School. I wanted to live in the Heights, near the school, but rents were too high so I ended up on Carroll Street between Smith and Hoyt, renting a floor through from a guy named Sal for half of what I would have paid in Brooklyn Heights.
I remember going to Caputo’s for loaves of bread back then as I did just last week (and also dinners at The Red Rose, a red sauce join with Christmas lights going all year long.)
It’s hard to see these mom and pops close. It’s kind of devastating actually. Espisito’s just last year and Mazzola’s is on the market. It’s history vanishing, centuries of relationships built over paper boxes tied with red and white striped string, and warm loaves of bread slipped into paper sleeves.
I’m sad to see the old timers close; it’s more than just a closing, it’s a lynchpin. A tipping point. These family run businesses can’t compete against the new bougie spots and the changing climate of the neighborhood. And if our beloved family owned businesses are closing, despite owning their buildings like the Caputo’s did, that’s a serious problem. I’ll dig more in the coming days; there is more to say than just this breaking news post.
I will say this. There are new neighbors building community. Poppy’s and Liz’s Book Bar; One Girl Cookies, Bar Ferdinando and Ramblin’ Chic. Places to hang your hat, full of people who remember your name, who ask about the kids and your mom. Who make you feel like you’re home. A “Hi, good to see ya!” on cue at the twinkle of a bell ringing over a door.
But we should be able to have both, and if we can’t, we need to figure out what to change so that family owned generational businesses can keep the ovens on.
This is heartbreaking. Best Italian bread in NYC.
Heartbreaking! They had incredible Irish soda bread. Such a loss for the neighborhood!