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Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 6:00 pm • Saturday 8:30 am to 6:00 pm • Closed Sundays |
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| 276 Franklin Ave • Hartford • Connecticut 06114 | ||
| Phone (860) 296-3261 • • Fax (860) 296-9383 |
HISTORY OF D&D MARKET
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My, grandfather, Vito D'Aprile immigrated from Monopoli, Province of Bari, Italy when he was a young boy. With his love of food, his love of the Italian Culture and his business mind he opened D&D Market on Windsor Street in Hartford, Connecticut in 1932. This 1,500 square foot store brought Italy to Hartford to so many who craved what they missed in their homeland.
When my dad, Achille "Kelly" D'Aprile was about 13 years old he began working at D&D Market. In 1959 he joined his father full time to continue his love of the food and make D&D Market a store that reached more people. In 1961, with Hartford's revitalization and my grandfather's foresight, D&D Market was moved to its present location of 276 Franklin Avenue. At that time, we had about 5,000 square feet of retail space and a large warehouse space that remains today. Both Vito and Kelly felt that they were better able to provide more Italian products, more meats and deli to their customers at this new location. I, too, developed the passion for food and serving the people of Hartford and of Connecticut. When I was 10 years old I began coming to work at D&D Market part-time. At first, I came to work at D&D Market to spend sometime with my grandfather and father for they worked long hours and I wanted to see them. My grandfather was delighted with the possibility of a younger generation, so he shared his vast knowledge of every aspect of the business with me as well as his moral ethics. A love for Italian food and culture ensued. After college, my goal was to join the family business to make it flourish and so I did. In August 1984 my father had a heart attack, I at 22 years old ran D&D Market with my grandfather's coaching. The mid-1990's provided an opportunity for my father, Kelly to expand the D&D Market shopping plaza. At this time, he developed the property and D&D Market went under major renovations as well, creating the D&D Plaza that is known today with D&D Market as the mainstay, Dunkin' Donuts, Small Smiles, D'Aprile Package Store and People's Bank to create a 1 stop shopping plaza. D&D Market has now in excess of 6,000 square feet of retail space and approximately 22,000 square feet of warehouse space. This allows us to purchase products at the right price therefore; we can pass the savings and quality onto our customers. | For three generations, we have provided customers with the finest Italian products that you can buy not only in the Hartford area, but in Connecticut. We have one of the largest Italian Deli's in the State of Connecticut, with the knowledge of our Deli staff and their desire to always please help us to stand out above and beyond the competition. If we don't have a product, we will get it for you or direct you to the proper place. Our exceptional Butchers, provide our customers with the finest cuts of meats and we will cut anything to your liking. We have the largest selection of sausages in the State and each one is made on the premises using our old world recipes. Our Veal Cutlets are renowned throughout the country. You may find veal cutlets at other stores, but none will compare to D&D Market's. Our meats are the freshest that you can find. The D&D Market butchers make the hamburger fresh daily or to order, so re-call's do not occur because we use only the finest products. Our prepared foods and catering is like bringing Nonna home with you. Our grinders and sandwiches are the finest and largest in the State of Connecticut. The D&D Market products can be found in area restaurants so that they too can provide their customers with the finest products in the area. Like my grandfather, Vito, my father, Kelly, and me, my children Lisa and Daniel have developed the love of food and the Italian Culture. They too came to work at D&D Market part-time from the time that they were 10, on Saturdays, working school vacations and summers. I believe at first it was like me to spend time or visit their grandfather and me. For our family, instead of going to visit your grandfather at their home, |
we visited at D&D Market. This is home to the D'Aprile Family, where our family gathers and where we bond.
Lisa recently graduated and has joined our company heading up marketing, promotions, public relations and developing the website which has been under construction for years. Daniel works on his vacations from college as well and always has numerous questions about the business or ideas. No one knows if they will stay or find their own way, but for now I am optimistic in hoping there maybe a forth generation, the future, to D&D Market. So, like my grandfather, I'm sharing my knowledge, history and passion of Italian food and Italian culture with them. I have continued my grandfather and father's principles of providing our customers with the best quality product for the best price. The staff at D&D Market is always willing to please, they not only work for us, but they are considered part of the D'Aprile Family. D&D Market has been serving customers for generations of families. Our customers too are part of the D'Aprile Family they are greeted with a hug a kiss by many, especially by Lisa and Daniel for they're remembered as the little ones. Many of our customers crave recreating their Nonna or Nonno's recipes and they come to us for help. D&D Market focuses on customer service, as my son, Daniel, said to his professor about D&D Market "it's like walking into a time warp." There is no where, but D&D Market that you are made to feel important and anything that you, the customer, wants is possible. Remember the days when your groceries were carried out to your car, well that's what it's like at D&D Market, the very same as it was in 1932 by my grandfather and by my father. If you're new to D&D Market, introduce yourself so that you too can join the extended D&D Market and D'Aprile Family. We thank each of you for your time and continued patronage. Thank you for giving me the privilege to tell the D&D Market story. Truly yours, Daniel Vito D'Aprile, Sr. |