NEW YORK, NY - Andrew “Andy” Balducci, a man behind the New York-based specialty grocer that bares his family’s name, has passed away at the age of 92. Starting with a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week Greenwich Village fruit stand that he ran with his father, Andy’s Balducci’s grew to become an aspirational vision of what a specialty food store could be, housing not only fresh produce, but charcuterie, fresh cheese, breads, pastries, prepared foods, and more all under one roof.
“We lost a part of our family last night—Andy Balducci,” wrote Baldor Foods in an Instagram post that featured a picture of Andy with members of his family, noting that Balducci laid the groundwork for what would later become Baldor Specialty Foods. “Andy, former owner of Balducci's, was one of the first direct importers of Prosciutto di Parma in the U.S. and is credited with introducing broccoli rabe to the masses, having mozzarella made fresh in store, and being among the first to enlist the services of artisan bread bakers.”
According to a report on Andy’s passing from Eater NY, the family sold the company in 1999, which has in turn changed hands several times since. The present-day Balducci's banner now includes 11 stores in New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Maryland, while Andy’s grandson, T.J. Murphy, now leads the wholesale spinoff of Balducci’s as CEO of Baldor Specialty Foods.
Balducci is survived by his wife, two children, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
AndNowUKnow would like to send our thoughts and condolences to family and friends of the produce and retail pioneer during this difficult time.
