His Work is Play
In the basement of Carmine Caccioppoli’s Mannheim home, there sits a tiny stool. Its disproportionally short legs glare in contrast to its wide seat. The long slats of the original back are fully missing. To Carmine, it’s beautiful. Re-purposed especially for him by his father Vincenzo, the stool allowed him to work and rest alongside his family at three-years-old. When he sees it, he’s flooded with the sounds and smells of his childhood, and the joy and satisfaction he felt in stacking cans of tomatoes and bags of pasta. No need for Lego or blocks, Carmine’s shelves were his work and his play.
The stool was a gift from a father whose greatest asset was time. It’s one of many gifts he received from Vincenzo, who arrived on August 15, 1951, at the Grand Trunk Railway Station in New Hamburg, Ontario after a 14-day journey across the Atlantic. He left Castellammare di Stabia, Italy on a 642-passenger ship named, “Vulcania” with one small suitcase and a dream to create a life for his family. He was greeted with joy by his sister Emilia and her husband, George who had immigrated a year earlier, as part of a post war recruitment effort of immigrants in a flourishing post war world. Vincenzo’s one true love, Rita would arrive a year later, and they would begin to build their life together.
Building began with Vincenzo working at a factory during the day and biking to Woodstock to work in the hot tobacco fields during the evenings and weekends. While winters and learning English were difficult, and loneliness loomed, they were blessed with four children, three born one year apart. In 1963, when Vincenzo was offered a managerial opportunity in his hometown back in Italy, it seemed too good to pass up. So, the family’s possessions were sold, and they sailed back to Italy homesick and hopeful.
As weeks turned into months and the promised opportunity never materialized, the Caccioppolis were at a crossroad. Disillusioned and running low on money, they concluded that if they weren’t going to live in Italy, sharing the very best parts of it with Canadians would be the next best thing. They had shopped at Forte’s Grocery Store when they first immigrated and knew there was room in the market to offer truly authentic Italian food. They sailed back to Canada, and in 1967, they purchased a house on Bridgeport Road in Waterloo and put up a sign that read: “Italian Canadian Foods”.
The living room was converted into a store leaving little space for their again, growing family. Rita ran the store during the day, with baby Carmine, their newest addition, sitting close by the cash register. Slowly, other homesick Italian immigrants, began to make weekly trips to this little cultural meeting spot. Vincenzo was in his glory, elated that he could offer his customers more selection of their favourite Italian foods at better prices.
Vincenzo grew the business by making weekly trips to Toronto, seeking out the freshest Mediterranean fruits and vegetables. At Christmas, he flew in fish from Boston and chocolate Easter eggs from Italy. He set up a very simple credit system to help those families who were in need, requesting that they pay only what they could. His honour system worked for over 25 years, and he was paid back every penny. Driven by his passion for fine foods, the store was always open. Both Vincenzo and Rita knew every customer by name. Customers from those early days remember the intimate experiences offered to them every time they walked through the door. Customers reminisce fondly on how much patience was required of their children, each waiting for a slice of Mortadella meat to be carefully sliced, and gingerly placed in their hands.
The stool was a gift from a father whose greatest asset was time.
By the early 1990s, the small Italian store hit a stride and business was good. The small brick house was now a bustling grocery store offering fresh pasta and needing to relocate to a larger property. Brothers Tony and Carmine agreed to take over the business, and in May 1992, they moved to Belmont Avenue, renaming the store, Vincenzo Fine Foods in honour of their father. They were filled with gratitude that Vincenzo was able to visit this location.
Coming to see the new store for the first time, and with roles reserved, Carmine lifted a chair out into the centre of the store so his father could appreciate all the hustle and bustle while resting his weary body, now ravaged by cancer. Cane by his side, his father nodded and smiled as customers came and went. This short, thirty-minute visit marked a moment Carmine will never forget. There was an acknowledgment of trust. The business his father had built and the family he had spent his life protecting and providing for, was in good hands. He passed away days later on May 13th, 1992.
In January 2010, Vincenzo’s expanded again to Caroline Street. Sharing this new location this time with their mother, Rita took one quick look around and asked pointedly, “Well, whose paying for all of this?” Everyone shared a laugh. Employing a staff of 75 people, many of them family members, Rita passed away in May 2011 certain her family would survive any hardship on the horizon.
Neither Vincenzo or Rita or the entire Caccioppoli clan could have imagined COVID-19 and how it would come to affect their business model built on deeply personal interactions between staff and customers. When they were no longer able to provide the uniquely interactive shopping experience that defined their business, they knew they needed to pivot and fast. Customers wanting to send gifts to loved ones in quarantine and craving the same comfort food in a chaotic time, Vincenzo’s stepped up to provide the same great products delivered quickly and conveniently straight to their customer’s doorsteps.
There is no doubt the Caccioppoli work ethic and ability to find innovative solutions runs deep through their Italian veins. Vincenzo and Rita would be proud of their family’s ability to not only survive but thrive. Still living in the township his father immigrated to and still stacking shelves as both work and play, I’m certain, youngest born Carmine Caccioppoli has made his parents proud.
His Work is Play
In the basement of Carmine Caccioppoli’s Mannheim home, there sits a tiny stool. Its disproportionally short legs glare in contrast to its wide seat. The long slats of the original back are fully missing. To Carmine, it’s beautiful. Re-purposed especially for him by his father Vincenzo, the stool allowed him to work and rest alongside his family at three-years-old. When he sees it, he’s flooded with the sounds and smells of his childhood, and the joy and satisfaction he felt in stacking cans of tomatoes and bags of pasta. No need for Lego or blocks, Carmine’s shelves were his work and his play.
The stool was a gift from a father whose greatest asset was time. It’s one of many gifts he received from Vincenzo, who arrived on August 15, 1951, at the Grand Trunk Railway Station in New Hamburg, Ontario after a 14-day journey across the Atlantic. He left Castellammare di Stabia, Italy on a 642-passenger ship named, “Vulcania” with one small suitcase and a dream to create a life for his family. He was greeted with joy by his sister Emilia and her husband, George who had immigrated a year earlier, as part of a post war recruitment effort of immigrants in a flourishing post war world. Vincenzo’s one true love, Rita would arrive a year later, and they would begin to build their life together.
Building began with Vincenzo working at a factory during the day and biking to Woodstock to work in the hot tobacco fields during the evenings and weekends. While winters and learning English were difficult, and loneliness loomed, they were blessed with four children, three born one year apart. In 1963, when Vincenzo was offered a managerial opportunity in his hometown back in Italy, it seemed too good to pass up. So, the family’s possessions were sold, and they sailed back to Italy homesick and hopeful.
As weeks turned into months and the promised opportunity never materialized, the Caccioppolis were at a crossroad. Disillusioned and running low on money, they concluded that if they weren’t going to live in Italy, sharing the very best parts of it with Canadians would be the next best thing. They had shopped at Forte’s Grocery Store when they first immigrated and knew there was room in the market to offer truly authentic Italian food. They sailed back to Canada, and in 1967, they purchased a house on Bridgeport Road in Waterloo and put up a sign that read: “Italian Canadian Foods”.
The living room was converted into a store leaving little space for their again, growing family. Rita ran the store during the day, with baby Carmine, their newest addition, sitting close by the cash register. Slowly, other homesick Italian immigrants, began to make weekly trips to this little cultural meeting spot. Vincenzo was in his glory, elated that he could offer his customers more selection of their favourite Italian foods at better prices.
Vincenzo grew the business by making weekly trips to Toronto, seeking out the freshest Mediterranean fruits and vegetables. At Christmas, he flew in fish from Boston and chocolate Easter eggs from Italy. He set up a very simple credit system to help those families who were in need, requesting that they pay only what they could. His honour system worked for over 25 years, and he was paid back every penny. Driven by his passion for fine foods, the store was always open. Both Vincenzo and Rita knew every customer by name. Customers from those early days remember the intimate experiences offered to them every time they walked through the door. Customers reminisce fondly on how much patience was required of their children, each waiting for a slice of Mortadella meat to be carefully sliced, and gingerly placed in their hands.
The stool was a gift from a father whose greatest asset was time.
By the early 1990s, the small Italian store hit a stride and business was good. The small brick house was now a bustling grocery store offering fresh pasta and needing to relocate to a larger property. Brothers Tony and Carmine agreed to take over the business, and in May 1992, they moved to Belmont Avenue, renaming the store, Vincenzo Fine Foods in honour of their father. They were filled with gratitude that Vincenzo was able to visit this location.
Coming to see the new store for the first time, and with roles reserved, Carmine lifted a chair out into the centre of the store so his father could appreciate all the hustle and bustle while resting his weary body, now ravaged by cancer. Cane by his side, his father nodded and smiled as customers came and went. This short, thirty-minute visit marked a moment Carmine will never forget. There was an acknowledgment of trust. The business his father had built and the family he had spent his life protecting and providing for, was in good hands. He passed away days later on May 13th, 1992.
In January 2010, Vincenzo’s expanded again to Caroline Street. Sharing this new location this time with their mother, Rita took one quick look around and asked pointedly, “Well, whose paying for all of this?” Everyone shared a laugh. Employing a staff of 75 people, many of them family members, Rita passed away in May 2011 certain her family would survive any hardship on the horizon.
Neither Vincenzo or Rita or the entire Caccioppoli clan could have imagined COVID-19 and how it would come to affect their business model built on deeply personal interactions between staff and customers. When they were no longer able to provide the uniquely interactive shopping experience that defined their business, they knew they needed to pivot and fast. Customers wanting to send gifts to loved ones in quarantine and craving the same comfort food in a chaotic time, Vincenzo’s stepped up to provide the same great products delivered quickly and conveniently straight to their customer’s doorsteps.
There is no doubt the Caccioppoli work ethic and ability to find innovative solutions runs deep through their Italian veins. Vincenzo and Rita would be proud of their family’s ability to not only survive but thrive. Still living in the township his father immigrated to and still stacking shelves as both work and play, I’m certain, youngest born Carmine Caccioppoli has made his parents proud.