THE Bazzini nut empire moved out of the massive 339-343 Greenwich at Jay Street in 2009 after 123 years in Tribeca; it was originally located on Park Place but moved here in 1968 (the company had purchased the building in 1943). Bazzini’s sold nuts, confections and produce in a combination wholesale and retail market here. Bazzini continues to own the building, but leased its space to Sarabeth’s Restaurant. The nut distributor joined many other comestibles dealers in relocating to Hunt’s Point in the Bronx. Packaged Bazzini nuts are still a staple in groceries and drugstores. The large Romanesque Revival brick edifice opened as a warehouse in 1900 and it has housed electrics dealers and dairy suppliers in what was once the “butter and egg district” adjacent to the old Washington Market in its long history.
The building now houses luxury apartments.
In 1943, the building was purchased by the Bazzini Family, processors and wholesalers of dried fruits and nuts. The A. L. Bazzini Company operation remained at Park Place where it was founded in 1886 and continued leasing the Greenwich Street building to wholesale food firms. Evelyn Packing Company was here at mid-century, dealing in pickled fish; while various dairy wholesalers continued to fill the building.
The Washington Market was demolished in the late 1960s when the wholesale produce industry moved far north to Hunts Point in the Bronx. Rather than follow, the Bazzini Brothers moved into their building at No. 339-343 Greenwich Street. They affixed large metal letters over the central arches of both elevations announcing “Bazzini Brothers” and the date of the company’s founding, 1886—understandably mistaken by many for the date of the building’s construction. [Tribeca Citizen]
A walk on Greenwich Street [FNY, 2018]
Check out the ForgottenBook (HarperCollins, 2006), as well as Forgotten Queens (Arcadia, 2013). I also have a chapter in the anthology “New York Calling: From Blackout to Bloomberg” (Reaktion, 2007). As always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site.
8/25/26