Citarella Gourmet Market
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail, Grocery |
| Founded | 1912 |
| Founder | Mike Citarella |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | New York, Connecticut |
Key people | Joseph "Joe" Gurrera (owner since 1983) |
| Products | Seafood, meats, gourmet foods, prepared foods, wine |
| Website | www |
Citarella Gourmet Market, often referred to simply as Citarella ( ), is a premium grocery retailer serving areas in New York and Connecticut. Established in 1912 by Mike Citarella, the business initially focused on seafood within New York City and has since broadened its offerings to include gourmet products aimed at upscale clientele. Citarella currently manages eight market locations and two wine shops situated in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Upper East Side, and West Village; Long Island’s East Hampton, Bridgehampton, and Southampton; along with a combined food and wine market in Greenwich, Connecticut. In January 2023, the company revealed plans to open a new outlet in Westhampton Beach, New York. Ownership has been held by Joseph 'Joe' Gurrera since 1983.
History
The origins of Citarella trace back to Mike Citarella’s establishment of a seafood specialty store in upper Manhattan. The initial shop was located on 75th Street, occupying a modest section of what would become the flagship store on the Upper West Side. In 1983, entrepreneur Joseph 'Joe' Gurrera, who brought extensive experience from the historic Fulton Fish Market, acquired the enterprise and continues as its proprietor. Under Gurrera’s leadership, Citarella underwent rebranding and in 1992 incorporated Lockwood & Winant, a seafood supply firm that enabled direct sourcing from fishermen, cutting out intermediaries to guarantee premium freshness.
By 1994, Citarella diversified into meats with the launch of Citarella Meats adjacent to its seafood outlet. A year later, these departments merged into a larger retail space. The introduction of prepared foods in 1996 marked the beginning of the modern gourmet market concept. To accommodate expansion, a warehouse facility was established on 18th Street. From 1997 through 2000, Citarella grew further by adding a second floor at the Upper West Side location and inaugurating stores on the Upper East Side and in Water Mill, New York.
In 2001, Citarella ventured into dining and takeout services with Citarella - The Restaurant, offering Mediterranean-American cuisine at Rockefeller Center. This operation lasted five years before closing in 2006, alongside its accompanying Citarella - To GO service. Subsequent store openings included East Hampton (2002), West Village (2003), Bridgehampton (2009), Southampton, and Greenwich (2014). To support these developments, the warehouse relocated to Hunts Point, Bronx in 2005.
Gurrera also initiated other dining establishments: Tutto Italiano in The Hamptons (operating from 2007 to 2012) and Fulton Restaurant, which emphasized seafood (active from 2008 to 2014).
The year 2015 saw the launch of Citarella’s current website featuring online ordering capabilities and nationwide seafood shipping. In 2018, Joe Gurrera authored the cookbook Joe Knows Fish, reinforcing his authority in both seafood retailing and culinary expertise.