Bazzini facts for kids
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| Industry |
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| Founded | 1886 in New York City, New York, United States |
| Founder | Anthony L. Bazzini |
| Headquarters | Allentown, Pennsylvania |
| Products | |
The A. L. Bazzini Company, known as Bazzini, is an American company. They sell nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate snacks. Their main office is in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Bazzini started in New York City in 1886. It is the oldest nut company in the United States. The company began in a neighborhood called Washington Market in Manhattan. When that market was taken down in 1968, Bazzini moved to a large nut-processing building on Greenwich Street.
In 1983, the Bazzini family sold the company to Rocco Damato. He has owned and run the company ever since. Bazzini moved to The Bronx in 1997. Then, in 2011, they moved to Allentown. You can find Bazzini nuts in stores. They are also sold at big places like Yankee Stadium. Bazzini has supplied nuts to Yankee Stadium since it first opened in 1923. The old factory building on Greenwich Street is still called the Bazzini Building. It is now apartments and is part of a historic area.
The Story of Bazzini
Anthony L. Bazzini, who came from Italy, started the A. L. Bazzini Company in 1886. He sold nuts to businesses and people. The company was in Manhattan until 1968. That year, the Washington Market area was changed by city plans. Many other food sellers moved to the Bronx. But Bazzini already owned a large building nearby. So, they moved their operations to 339 Greenwich Street.
By 1976, the company was processing a lot of peanuts. They processed about 3,000 tons of peanuts each year. These peanuts came from states like Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia. Bazzini would roast them in their shells or remove the shells. They also processed other nuts like Brazil nuts, cashews, and walnuts.
Bazzini has worked with many big places in New York. These include Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium. They supplied nuts to the first Yankee Stadium from 1923 to 2008. They still supply nuts to the current Yankee Stadium today. Bazzini also sold their products to many stores, like Zabar's.
The New York Times newspaper wrote about Bazzini. They called it "one of the largest packers and distributors of nuts in America." The article said Bazzini became more popular because of Jimmy Carter. He was running to be president of the United States. Carter often talked about being a peanut farmer.
Changes and New Locations
Rocco Damato and his partners bought the company in 1983. Damato became the CEO, which means the main boss. In the 1980s, it became expensive to work in Manhattan. So, the company sold some space in their Greenwich Street building. It was turned into apartments. But they kept the store on the first floor.
Rocco and his wife, Electra Damato, ran the nut store. They made it bigger to include fancy foods and a cafe. They moved some of their nut production to North Carolina. Then, in 1997, Bazzini moved its main nut-processing factory. It moved from Tribeca to Hunts Point in the Bronx. They still kept the retail store on Greenwich Street. Bazzini was one of the last food companies in that area.
In 2011, Bazzini bought Barton's Candy Company. This company made chocolates and candies since 1940. In the same year, Bazzini's factory moved again. This time it moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania. Damato said this move was because of a new food safety law. This law meant they would need to spend a lot of money to update the Bronx factory. They decided to move to Allentown instead. They already owned a more modern building there from buying Barton's.
The company's special symbol is a happy elephant holding a big peanut. Even though their main factory moved to Allentown, they still have offices in the Bronx. As of 2017, Bazzini is the oldest nut company in the United States. Rocco Damato is still the CEO. Besides nuts, they sell nut butters, dried fruit, chocolate, and other snacks.
The Bazzini Building
The large building at 339 Greenwich Street is still known as the Bazzini Building. It is at the corner of Jay Street.
It was first built for John H. Mohlmann. He owned a successful grocery business. He bought several buildings in the Washington Market area. After he passed away, his family combined four land lots. They built a large, six-story building. It was designed by C. Wilson Atkins. The building has a style that looks like old European buildings. The Greenwich Street side is a bit taller. The Jay Street side has bigger arches.
The Mohlmann family ran a wholesale grocery business there. Other businesses rented the rest of the space. Many businesses, mostly food sellers, worked in the building for a long time. Bazzini bought this building in 1943. They also bought other buildings nearby. They still kept their main business on Park Place. When their business had to leave Park Place, they moved to Greenwich Street.
Bazzini left Tribeca in 1997. But the large nut-processing building is still there. It has been changed into apartments. It is part of the Tribeca West Historic District. This area was named a historic district on May 7, 1991. The Damatos' retail store in the old Bazzini building closed in 2010.
See also
In Spanish: Bazzini para niños
