D'Agostino Supermarkets

D'Agostino Supermarkets

Company type	Private
Industry	Retail (supermarkets)
Founded	January 1, 1932 (1932-01-01) in New York City, United States
Founder	Pasquale D'Agostino, Nicola D'Agostino
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Area served	New York City and Westchester County
Key people	Nicholas D'Agostino III (former CEO), John Catsimatidis (majority owner since 2018)
Products	Grocery products, meats, produce, dairy, baked goods
Parent	Gristedes (since 2018)

Overview

D'Agostino Supermarkets is a grocery store chain based in New York City, which was acquired by Gristedes in 2018, transferring majority ownership to John Catsimatidis. The business was established in 1932 by siblings Pasquale and Nicola D'Agostino. During its peak period in the 1990s, the company operated 26 outlets across New York City and nearby Westchester County, generating annual revenues surpassing $200 million. In subsequent years, the chain reduced its footprint, consolidating to nine locations—currently ten—in Manhattan.

Founding and expansion

File:Opening of 20th Street.jpg

The inauguration of D'Agostino Brothers on 20th Street (1950). Each family store launch was traditionally blessed by a Catholic priest. From left to right: Patsy D'Agostino, city official, priest, Nick D'Agostino Sr.

File:D'Agostino Brooklyn.png

D'Agostino's located in a designated landmark building at Love Lane and Henry Street, Brooklyn (1980). Currently a CVS store.

Pasquale and Nicholas D'Agostino Sr., siblings who founded D'Agostino Supermarkets, emigrated separately from the mountain village of Bugnara, Italy to New York City during their teenage years in the 1920s. Facing financial hardship, they did not complete high school but gained practical knowledge by working with merchants, including helping with their father’s fruit and vegetable pushcart enterprise.

In 1932, the brothers acquired a modest store situated in Manhattan's affluent Upper East Side, an area where residents maintained the ability to purchase premium groceries even throughout the Great Depression. By 1939, they relocated to a more spacious location nearby, naming it Yorkville Food Shoppe and incorporating a meat section. This marked a significant development as they allowed customers to buy meat, produce, dairy, and baked goods all under one roof, contributing to the early adoption and growth of the supermarket concept. Benefiting from the post-WWII economic upswing, D'Agostino's prospered and launched another substantial outlet in 1950 on 20th Street near Stuyvesant Town – Peter Cooper Village.

Following Pasquale’s death in 1960, Nicholas acquired his brother’s stake to become CEO, chairman, and president, thereby addressing family succession matters. At this point, the chain included eight stores located on Manhattan's East Side. Known for its premium meats, D'Agostino's ran memorable advertisements during the 1960s with the slogan "Please don't kiss the butcher.” In 1964, Nicholas Sr. stepped back from daily operations, entrusting management to his sons Stephen and Nicholas Jr., while retaining his role as chairman. Stephen assumed the roles of president and CEO in 1972 before Nicholas Jr. took over leadership in 1982.

Throughout the 1970s, D'Agostino's extended its presence to Manhattan's West Side and promoted its brand using durable plastic "D'Ag Bags," which became fashionable accessories enhancing the chain’s prestige. The company’s catchy singing commercials—created by Jo Foxworth—featured the tagline "Please, Mr. D'Agostino, Move Closer to Me," which were frequently broadcast on radio and television during this era. By the 1990s, after two decades of consistent growth across two generations, the supermarket chain operated 26 locations throughout New York City and nearby Westchester County, generating annual revenues exceeding $200 million.

Challenges and Contraction

Throughout the 2000s, D'Agostino's, along with comparable retailers, faced intensifying competition from larger supermarket chains and drugstores. Concurrently, escalating financial burdens stemming from New York City's real estate prices, union labor costs, and limitations on trade credit drastically reduced available funds for inventory replenishment. By 2016, under the leadership of CEO Nicholas D'Agostino III, the company had scaled back to nine locations exclusively within Manhattan and was exploring potential mergers with competitors such as Key Food or Gristedes. A $10 million credit facility provided by Gristedes’ owner played a crucial role in stabilizing the business.

Following Gristedes’ acquisition of a controlling stake in D'Agostino's (as mentioned earlier), the product assortment and pricing strategies at D'Agostino's have largely aligned with those of Gristedes. The traditional meat counter, once staffed by butchers who prepared custom cuts, has been mostly replaced by a "meat clerk" role. This approach mirrors the Gristedes model, where meat and seafood arrive pre-packaged for distribution to individual outlets. Additionally, D'Agostino's formerly well-regarded extensive cheese selection has been significantly altered to resemble that of the Gristedes chain.

Presence in Popular Culture

D'Agostino's has long promoted itself with the tagline "New York's Grocer" and frequently appears in various entertainment media as a symbol of the city’s environment. The store plays a key role in the 1974 film Death Wish, featuring multiple scenes set inside its premises. It also appears in the 1975 movie The Prisoner of Second Avenue. On television, D'Agostino's serves as the location where characters from Will & Grace reunite after a year apart, and it is regularly showcased in the series Friends. In literature, the 1991 novel American Psycho depicts serial killer Patrick Bateman shopping at D'Agostino's. The store is also visible in Ghostbusters II, where Dana Barrett carries groceries from there. Moreover, D'Agostino's is referenced in the song "Honeysuckle Blue" by Drivin' N' Cryin' and in "Jussumen" by Das EFX.

Further reading

• Template:Cite thesis

External links

• Template:Official site