Angelo Brocato reminds me of my childhood growing up Sicilian in a tight knit community in New Orleans in the 60s. It was a simpler time where Sicilian immigrant-owned businesses relied greatly on neighborhood patron support.

I recall as a child, every Saturday morning, my grandmother and I would start our day by driving from the Westbank of New Orleans to the Eastbank to buy groceries and specialty Italian food items in support of local, family-owned Italian businesses. There was always a specific destination for each item. Over time, my Saturdays with my grandmother evolved into an all-day, memorable, and adventurous shopping journey throughout the city.