Antonio Veniero immigrated to New York City from Southern Italy in 1885, and by 1894 heâd saved up enough money to open his own social club on 11th Street between First and Second Avenues. At first, he only served biscotti, espresso, and homemade candy, but eventually Antonio brought several âmastro pasticcieresâ (master bakers) over from Sicily and Venieroâs became a full-scale Italian pasticceria. Antonio passed away in 1931, leaving the bakery to his son, Michael, who in turn sold it to his cousin Frank in 1970; itâs been family-run ever since.
More than 125 years since its founding, Veniero's Pasticceria & CaffĂ© is one of New Yorkâs only remaining old-world Italian bakeries, and one of the very best outside of Italy. Its pastries, including Italian butter cookies, biscotti, cannoli, sfogliatelle, tiramisĂč, and cheesecake, are still made according to the original recipes, and itâs cemented itself as an East Village landmark. Venieroâs is a true immigrant success story, and now itâs shipping its renowned Italian pastries nationwide!