Emilio Mignucci of the DiBruno Bros. House of Cheese

The energy that radiates from proprietor Emilio Mignucci is enough to toast a big loaf of Sarcone's bread in a split second. Animated, dedicated and elucidated, the newly elected President of the Ninth Street Business Association takes great delight in filling the shoes of the previous two generations of the DiBruno family. With his vision of a market that embraces all ethnic groups, Mignucci perceives the dynamics in an anthropological light. "Food has a cultural dimension and is centered around the kitchen. Yes, nutrition is the primary purpose but religious, economic, social and environmental factors play a big role. If you can speak the language of food, you can speak any language. Today, food is a fusion of everything."

A graduate of Central High School and The Restaurant School, the father of two who has been married for 20 years to his high-school sweetheart Susan, Mignucci began his career at the now defunct, DiLullo Centro but even at an early age, gastronomy ran deep. "When I was six, seven, eight years old I remember being in the store with my grandparents and my uncles, Danny, Joe and Thomas. It was a playground for me. I saw them selling their products and I knew that's what I wanted to do. When I was nine, during one of the Italian Festivals, my cousin and I made sandwiches and sold them to the crowd. The food business seeped into my blood."

With an ambitious Executive Committee: Vice-President Dave Brown of Talluto's Pasta and Cheese, Secretary Anthony Anastasio of Anthony's Italian Coffee House, and Treasurer, Tina Grassia of Grassia Italian Market Spice Company, the vision for the future of the market includes the formation of a Market District to maintain the area, continuing development of the infrastructure, implementation of economic renewal, and the construction of a European style piazza with a fountain, for a gathering place. "This market is such a gem, it deserves to be looked after and coddled. We have a very protective mind-set for what we have and the goings on down here," I'm informed. "We have a unique, international, open-air market that has stood the test of time and is the only one like it in the country. The foundation that was built by our grand-parents, some of the names are a hundred years old, we feel responsible and want to pay homage to them." His namesake son, Emilio, is now learning the ropes at Pronto and Dad has high hopes for him. "He's only seventeen, but as the 4^th generation from the DiBruno family, he's a good worker and quick to learn."

Mignucci is also a quick study. "When Esposito Meat's had that devastating fire a few years ago, it would have been easy for them to just close the retail shop, but instead they made a decision to be committed to the market. I said to myself, if they made the commitment to stay on the street, then why shouldn't we be more committed? "

In business, synergy means that there is cooperation among members with different skills to bring about a completion of tasks for the success of the whole. In order to re-vitalize this ten block area, from Wharton to Fitzwater streets, Italian, Hispanic and Asian merchants must come together. And thanks to the influx of immigrants from the four corners, new and interesting shops have opened which include music stores, grocers, an herbal apothecary, a barbershop, theater and new restaurants. Yes, it's a tourist attraction to some extent, but we as residents of this community must also have the synergy to interact with the new and the tried-and-true, to keep our market not just alive, but vital and thriving.

930 S. 9th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19145
P. 215.922.2876 | F. 215.922.2080

Store Hours:
Monday thru Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 8am - 6pm
Sunday 8am - 3pm
www.dibruno.com

DiBruno Bros.Catering
1730 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-5120
(215) 665-9220

Ninth Street Market a.k.a The Italian Market

Philadelphia 9th Street Italian Market
Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday: 9 AM to 2 PM Location: 9th Street from Wharton Street to Fitzwater Street
www.phillyitalianmarket.com