Maya McFadden Photo
Fourth-generation owner Marc D’Angelo cuts centennial ribbon Wednesday.
Libby’s Italian Pastry Shop celebrated 100 years of business grounded in the heart of the city’s Little Italy.
City officials joined the pastry shop’s team, made up of generations of Italian-American heritage, at 135 Wooster St. Wednesday afternoon to recognize the centennial benchmark.
“It’s one of those businesses that due to its reputation puts New Haven on the map as a food destination and in the process lifts up so many other food businesses in New Haven,” said Deputy Economic Development Administrator Carlos Eyzaguirre.
Original Wooster Street groundbreaking for Libby's.
Mayor Justin Elicker presented current owners Marc, P.J., and Salvatore D’Angelo with a city proclamation recognizing the business’s founding in 1922 by Liberato and Giuseppina Dell’Amura.
Families have hosted celebrations of birthdays, deaths, holidays, and communion at Libby’s over the years.
“As a daughter of Italian immigrants who came to this country with suitcase full of dreams, these are the dreams we talk about,” said East Rock Alder Anna Festa.
Officials and Libby's team.
The group also celebrated the completion of extensive renovations done to the shop’s interior and exterior with funding help from the city’s Façade Improvement Grant Program. Libby’s received a $41,951 match from the city to help refurbish the storefront entrance with an outdoor patio, new door and windows, and signage. The 11-month renovation project was completed last year.
Several tables surround the shop’s entrance for outdoor dining. Inside the shop signage is refreshed while keeping with the traditional style.
Leona DelCore, a third-generation member of the family business, showed off photos on wall of the original owner, her grandfather, and her father Fortunato Dell’Amura.
Leona DelCore shows wall of photos of the former Libby's at 142 Wooster St.
After the press conference officials made their way into the shop for a tour of the upgrades and to purchase pastries for a sweet lunch. U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro bought $40 worth of baked goods to get her through the rest of the week.
DeLauro recalled visiting Libby’s as a child growing up on Wooster Street when it was housed across the street from its current location. “This is home,” she said. “This is my life.”
DeLauro gets a taste of childhood.
She recalled getting lemon ice in a paper cup — squeezing the paper cup until she got every drop and then sucking the lemon ice flavor out the paper cup “because it was just so spectacular.”
Marc, a fourth-generation owner, said he’s excited to be keeping the shop’s traditions going and fresh with the new renovations.
Watch the full ceremony above.