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Back in Nov. ’09, Danny Harris wrote a People’s District post titled Nicole on the
Last Remnants of Italian Life on North Capitol Street. It was fascinating. I finally
went for a visit myself last weekend and I was absolutely blown away (as I
should’ve known.) The place is a true time warp for many reasons but for all
those who’ve been pining for a proper bakery – I don’t care if you live nowhere
near here – it is worth the travel! I would go just to talk with the former owner, Mr.
Caruso (now retired), who will tell you all about the history of the bakery and the
neighborhood. They are only open for retail Sat. morning around 7:30am until
around 1pm.
I bought a chocolate bread that was ridiculously good – seriously no other way to
describe it. Plus they have proper Italian bread and rolls, other pastries and their
famous biscotti. For those who know good Italian subs in DC – these folks are
the suppliers for Mangialardo’s and A. Litteri among many others. Enough said,
right? So next Sat. go visit! They are located at 1404 N. Capitol St, NW (just
south of P).
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Real Italian bread!
Lots more photos and history after the jump.
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Memorabilia from the Caruso family (original owners)
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Category: History, Truxton Circle
By: Prince Of Petworth | 28 March 2011 11:20 AM | 34 Comments
Anonymous
shame about the neighborhood though. when they started opening on
saturday mornings, they were doing a test to see if it was a good idea to
be open to the public possibly more days. but shortly after that they were
robbed a few times. i think employees were beaten. such a sad
depressed area.
wisely, the bars stay on, the place retails mostly wholesale.
they own a few other buildings in the area too. but they are reluctant to
either sell or develop them.
March 28, 2011 at 11:38 am
The AMT
I *love* this place. It’s right around the corner from me, so I wake up on
Saturday mornings and just stroll down. Nicole is wonderful, and the
croissants are some of the best I’ve had.
March 28, 2011 at 11:50 am
Angry Parakeet
I worked for an Italian American engineer who grew up in this once
viable, vibrant Italian neighborhood. He introduced me to Litteri’s. He
remembered vividly the smoke rising from the 1968 riots, immediately
after which his parents moved the family to Anne Arundel county.
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March 28, 2011 at 12:09 pm
Anonymous
damn gentri-flame-cation.
March 28, 2011 at 12:20 pm
Angry Parakeet
Oh, is David Catania related to the bakery family here?
March 28, 2011 at 12:11 pm
JayCee
Anyone know their hours on Sat? As a Brooklyn transplant, I’ve been
missing some “real” Italian baked goods.
March 28, 2011 at 12:16 pm
Anonymous
” They are only open for retail Sat. morning around 7:30am until
around 1pm.”
March 28, 2011 at 12:19 pm
Prince Of Petworth
Roughly 7:30am until roughly 1pm. It is not uncommon for them
to sell out certain items.
March 28, 2011 at 12:19 pm
JayCee
Thank you, missed that on the first read through.
March 28, 2011 at 12:35 pm
Anonymous
Thanks for the reminder; I’ve been meaning to check this place out. As
an Italian-American from New Jersey I do miss those old school
bakeries.
March 28, 2011 at 12:25 pm
TCres
I love the bakery, however I’m torn on the negative impact their squatting
on next door buildings is having on the corridor.
“…For now, Tramonte is content to rent her buildings to small
businesses and companies that need D.C. addresses to qualify for city
contracts….”
full article at:
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/print-edition/2011/02/25/acinderella-story-a-north-capitol.html
March 28, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Jake
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how is that “squatting” if she owns the buildings?
March 28, 2011 at 12:30 pm
Anonymous
she’s not squatting. she’s jamalling. jamalling: not doing
shit with your property until new development starts to
surround it.
March 28, 2011 at 12:33 pm
Dog walker
I believe you mean “jemalling”.
March 28, 2011 at 3:53 pm
Mouna
I had an amazingly good pastry on my one and only visit. It is a little
neighborhood secret. The bakery is located on a block that is a shame
and a disgrace. All the drugies hang out drinking and selling pills.
March 28, 2011 at 12:30 pm
Anon
The owners’ actions have become quite controversial, with some saying
they are standing in the way of redevelopment on that block. I dont know
where I stand, but I know if the buildings that these folks owned were in
better shape, they’d have my business. As it is, I dont go there because
there is a robbery a week on that block. If it were safer, I’d love to go.
March 28, 2011 at 12:33 pm
Anonymous
It’s sad to think that development in that area is probably a long way off.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to call it one of the most dangerous and
dilapidated parts of town.
March 28, 2011 at 2:34 pm
Anonymous
My realtor told me about this place while we were driving around looking
at places but I still need to visit. Reminds me of Liguria Bakery, an old
school bakery that sells only foccacia, in the North Beach neighborhood
of San Francisco.
March 28, 2011 at 2:36 pm
Anonymous
There’s plenty of crappy intersections in this area that can be developed,
don’t be hating on an old school bakery that’s been here since before
you were born!
P.S. Can’t wait for the firehouse bar.
March 28, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Anon
The bakery isnt the problem. The owners of the bakery who also
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own vacant properties adjacent to the bakery are the problem.
I dont care when the bakery was opened, they need to be more
responsible neighbors.
Shiloh Baptist Church has been here a long time too, does that
mean everything they do is beyond criticism?
March 28, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Thor
Once I went there on a Sat. and chatted a bit with her. She tolled me
how once they were once robbed and the robbers tied up the employees
and her nephew or granddaughter (i don’t remember well) and tried to
rape her but one of the employees was able to free himself and fight off
the robbers. Pretty messed up story.
March 28, 2011 at 3:40 pm
Anonymous
See, I don’t understand why they’re keeping those properties
vacant. I have a ton of sympathy for them and I admire their
willingness to tough it out in a tough neighborhood, but you’re
just begging to become a crime victim when you’re work or live
next to a vacant property.
March 28, 2011 at 4:27 pm
Sully
I just noticed this place last Monday walking the dogs and wondered why
haven’t I tried this place, then I passed aroung the corner and noticed all
the dealing going on and said OH that’s why. I am still going there this
weekend.
March 28, 2011 at 3:41 pm
Jaynuze
Danielle will let you come in with your dog … if you ask nicely
March 28, 2011 at 3:55 pm
crin
Judging from the Caruso memorabilia photo, looks like someone served
in an armored division during WWII.
March 28, 2011 at 4:19 pm
Mouna
Last time I checked, we lived in the United States of America, the woman
has the right to keep her property until she gets her price, not the price
YOU think she should accept for the good of the neighborhood.
March 28, 2011 at 4:23 pm
TCres
yes, they have that ‘right’. However they have a responsibility to
their neighbors to keep their properties in good repair. The
blighted character of the surrounding buildings is their fault.
March 29, 2011 at 12:17 pm
Anonymous
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This post just breaks my heart
I’m an Italian American from New York,
and I still haven’t been here yet. I’ve only been to A. Litteri twice, too…I
don’t have a car and I wouldn’t feel safe walking from the metro to either
places or waiting for a bus in these neighborhoods. I’m just dying for a
real Italian bakery in this city, and here is one so close, but so far!
Aghhhhhh the pain. Well, at least I can get to Mangialardo…which is still
like a good 45 min metro trip for me.
March 28, 2011 at 4:34 pm
victoria
Really? Really??? It’s only open on Saturday mornings from
7:30-1p.m. what the heck do you think is going to happen to
you??? You’ll die much faster and more miserable from your
current fears. And without good bread.
March 28, 2011 at 4:45 pm
saf
See, your post makes me sad.
No, I wouldn’t walk alone in either of those neighborhoods late at
night. But during the day, there’s NO reason not to go.
Makes me sad to see people scared of my city.
March 28, 2011 at 4:48 pm
Anonymous
I accidentally missed my bus stop this morning and
ended up in Anacostia. I panicked for a second, then
told myself my chances of getting shot at 9am are
incredibly slim, and plenty of people manage to live
there without getting themselves killed, so I should be
fine.
March 28, 2011 at 5:26 pm
saf
One of my current projects is east of the river. I
spend a good bit of time in Historic Anacostia.
So, I hope you’re exaggerating, but if not, here,
check these links out:
http://www.habadc.org/
http://www.reeldc.org/
http://www.anacostianow.com/
(I’ve also got a project going in LeDroit Park and
Bloomingdale, and Logan, and…. I will rave for
days, given half a chance, about the wonders of
the neighborhoods of this city.)
March 28, 2011 at 5:42 pm
Trixie
Oh for the love of Christ. Really?
March 29, 2011 at 9:44 am
Rex
This is just down the street from me and I never even noticed it! Perhaps
they should invest in a new sign? Either way, I now know where I’ll be
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this Saturday morning.
On a broader note, and possibly to help allay some of the concerns
about safety, I have lived within four blocks of this bakery for the past
three years and would not think twice about travelling down this street on
a Saturday morning. You should be prepared for random homeless
people and the average over-achieving drunkard who is already
stumbling, but otherwise it is relatively benign.
March 28, 2011 at 6:32 pm
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