Pozzo Pastry Shop Still Mourned After Two-Plus Years

There are deaths of old businesses and deaths of old businesses. Sometimes I'll post an item about an old New York establishment closing its doors and no one will comment or link. Other times, they're comment and link in decent numbers and then the joint will fade from memory.

Then there are the places that shutter and continue to draw sad remembrances month after month, year after year. Manny's Music was one of those. I get a comment or two every month from people who are just discovering it's gone and can't get over it. More surprising is the long mourning period of Pozzo Pastry Shop, a Hell's Kitchen neighborhood business that was owned and operated by Mario & Joseph Bianchi, and that closed back in January 2008. People still feel its absence. 



One Donna commented the other day "I loved this bakery none has compared to it yet. I now live on long Island and used to take trips in the city just to get my favorite cake sometimes with and sometimes w/o rum. I'm sorry but no one beats their cake and their cannoli's were always fresh and the cream oh my was the best! I will miss Pozzo's and always talk about it. I have pictures of all my occasions growing up communion, confirmation, graduation & birthdays and your cake is with me I can still taste it. Will miss you most."

In February, SP said, "Boy do I miss their cake -- chocolate and vanilla- I think rum - never had a cake as good as the ones at Pozzo!"

Anonymous said in winter 2009, "I went to school with Mario and knew his parents who initially owned the store when it was in a different location on the same block. Always used to get "the cakes" there. They were the best. Last time I saw Mario was in September 1967---I don't have the heart to tell my sister yet."

Professor Random said in fall 2008: "My aunt and uncle lived within walking distance of this wonderful bakery and the first thing I would do whenever I came to visit was hound them about going for cannoli. In fact, since I have never lived in areas known for Italian pastries, I stopped eating cannoli altogether, Pozzo's being my gold standard and none ever living up to their filled-to-order goodness."