14 September 2009

Bensonhurst's Trunzo Brothers Meat Market Closes



The closing of Trunzo Brothers Meat Market and Salumeria, a Bensonhurst staple for decades, doesn't seem to have made any news cycle, even though the final end came for the 18th Avenue institution months ago.

Seeing the Trunzo name still emblazoned on the awnings and the building's north wall, I recently walked right in expecting to buy some cheese and sausage, only to find aisle after aisle filled with cheap gift crap. It was a 99 cents store. As a sign of how willing today's youth are to forget the past—or simply remain totally ignorant of it—I had to show the clerk the awning before she believed that the place had once been an Italian deli. Only then did she remember the Trunzo had closed six months ago.


There's so much Trunzo signage left, that you have to look thrice to locate the awning that says "99 cents." You'd think they'd take some of it down. Then again, I'm glad they didn't. I hope they never do.



Trunzo—it's a great name, isn't it? The store was opened in 1974 by brothers Pasquale and Frank Trunzo. The family itself had spent fully seven generations in the meat business. They carried the usual stuff: prosciutto di Parma and Genoa salami, homemade sopressata, capicollo, pancetta, fresh buffalo mozzarella, pecorino, gorgonzola and tallegio. None of it cost 99 cents; it was worth more than that.

Here's a picture of Trunzo when it was still functioning:

6 comments:

Roanoke RnR said...

Wow, that sucks! I hope Frank & Sal's will still be open next time I get up there so I can load up the cooler. Can't get none of that good stuff here in Virignia...

Lou Garu said...

The new albeit smaller Trunzo is on 18ave bt 66 and 67st. Good butchers die hard!

Jackie said...

Awww this is horrible...I just heard about the closing...I used to love swinging by there on my way home from MD...So sad :(

Lou! You say there is a new one? Same butchers n workers?

Anonymous said...

But why did they close??

Jackie said...

Don't know :(

Unknown said...

I have only been there 2 or 3 times. My ex girlfriend use to work there as a secretary of sorts. Her name was Dorothy. Do any of you remember her?