History of Italian Immigration in Philadelphia

Throughout the second half of the 19th century, Philadelphia saw a large influx of Italian immigrants who settled in South Philadelphia to create "Little Italy," established and strongly developed by Italian immigrants who arrived during the 1880s (Gertrude). Philadelphia was soon known as the second largest city that was home to Italian Americans in 2010, with "3,100 Italian immigrants living in the city and more than 142,000 residents identifying as having Italian ancestry" (Luconi, 2017). Many of these Italian immigrants came to the United States, specifically Philadelphia, in search of employment opportunities and refuge. Once in Philadelphia, "their area of settlement in South Philadelphia extended north to Bainbridge Street and southwestward to Federal Street along Passyunk Avenue" (Luconi, 2017). The Italian immigrant population was then able to establish the Italian Market, which served as a cultural marker of identity and the nation's oldest outdoor market. Cultural hubs such as the Italian Market, Italian-owned restaurants/businesses, and churches all worked together to preserve the legacy, history, and heritage of Italian immigrants in Philadelphia.

A Family’s Journey to Philadelphia

After moving to New Jersey and Philadelphia, Angilina's great-great-grandparents were from various parts of Italy, including Naples, Campobasso, Ariccia, and Foggia.  Her family had to learn English, find employment, and locate accommodations, just like many other Italian immigrants at the time.  The fact that her ancestors' last name was altered when they arrived at Ellis Island in America was one particular element that stayed with her. "Our original name is Giulia, but they changed it to Julia to sound more American," she shared with me.  It serves as a modest but important reminder of the need for Italian immigrants to integrate while retaining their cultural identity. 

Traditions That Evolve with Time

Regarding preserving customs, Angilina acknowledges the challenge of distinguishing between "old-world Italian" and what is now referred to as Italian-American. One example is the Christmas Eve custom known as the Feast of the Seven Fishes. "I’m pretty sure that’s old-world, but our feast looks far different than our ancestors’ did. We’re not eating sardines and smelts anymore—my dad’s frying shrimp and making crab gravy."  Food remains a big part of Angilina's family identity. "My dad still cooks Sunday dinner—gravy, meatballs and sausage, sometimes ziti or lasagna or chicken parm. That time around the dinner table with our family is real quality time, and as me and my sisters have gotten older, it feels like we get less and less of it. That’s why moments like those dinners have become so meaningful."

The Italian Market: Then and Now

Throughout her life, Angilina has witnessed a great deal of change in the Italian market.  "It has become a lot less Italian, which isn’t really a bad thing, but it is different.  They just call it the 9th Street Market now, and I remember when they made that change, my family had a lot to say about it."  As a South Philadelphian, born and raised, I've noticed how the market has seen a significant increase in Asian and Hispanic businesses, and my parents have told me this is something that has been steadily increasing since the 1980s and '90s. Angilina then further discusses how "Some members of the older generations see it as an encroachment—others coming and invading, taking over a community that was once their own. But I don’t see it that way. I think immigrants have so much to teach us, so much to offer our city."  As Angilina and I took a walk around the Italian Market (which I was unaware of the name change), we took note of the Hispanic and Latinx-owned businesses that would coexist with the Italian-owned businesses. Not far from the 9th Street Market is the Wing Phat Plaza which features Asian-owned markets, businesses, and restaurants. Still, Angilina acknowledges how Italian businesses have remained cultural landmarks in Philadelphia. This rings true for Villa di Roma, an Italian restaurant owned by Angilina's uncle, which has been in business since 1963. Angilina states how "We don’t see too many new Italian places popping up on 9th Street. But the places that are still there have been for generations. They’re places the city recognizes as cultural institutions."

Identity and Change Across Generations

In South Philadelphia, navigating cultural identification is both strongly felt and occasionally sometimes "performed" by younger generations of Italian-Americans. Angilina explains this by stating "I do feel like some of the younger generation’s ‘Italian-ness’ is put on, like some kind of performance of identity. It’s hard to tell anymore what is actual cultural practice and what is just the Americanized version of it." In terms of politics, Angilina feels conflicted about the way other Italian-Americans currently perceive immigration. "Most of the Italians I know, including people my age and younger, are deeply Republican and anti-immigration. Which doesn’t make much sense to me. You’d think they’d have more sympathy, considering what our great-great-grandparents went through to get here and the shit they got from everyone when they arrived." Despite the changes seen throughout the generations and political views, Angilina believes South Philly's Italian identity isn’t going anywhere. "People will continue to spend the rest of their lives here, have babies here, and raise those babies here. This community has stuck around for so long because we love this place. This has become our home."  I believe that erasing Italian history from Philadelphia is erasing part of Philadelphia's own identity.

Preserving the Legacy

Angilina hopes that food never disappears from Italian-American culture and traditions. "We can’t lose recipes," she says with certainty. Food, culture, and identity are so deeply intertwined with one another that getting rid of one component would be similar to erasing who that person is. Food links Italian Americans to their past generations and even their future ones.In many ways, food is the glue that holds Italian-American identity together, linking past generations to future ones. Angilina's ultimate hope? That the Italian-American community continues to grow and be more receptive to both new people and new ideas. "So much of our tradition is about sharing and celebrating together, and I want to be able to share that with as many people as possible."

Italian Americans, once the new immigrants on the block, are now deeply ingrained into Philadelphia’s history. For older generations, staying connected to their Italian roots means keeping up the shops and restaurants that have been in business for decades and cooking dishes the traditional way. The 9th Street Italian Market brings forth so many memories and nostalgia washes over me. Specifically, I remember my dad always taking me to Golden Donut and Lorenzo’s Pizza, which have been in business for over 80 years. Additionally, the younger generations of Italian Americans are rediscovering and redefining their identity beyond food through language classes, trips abroad to Italy, and engaging with Italian cultural events. As the years progressed, the 9th Street Market has changed dramatically, becoming an increasingly diverse melting pot of cultures, where Mexican, Vietnamese, and Chinese immigrants run their businesses alongside the longstanding Italian ones. Here, these cultures coexist with one another and add to the cultural landscape of Philadelphia, which is reflective of these demographic shifts. 

There is so much history and tradition surrounding Italian immigrants and the 9th Street Market. Two annual festivals happen in South Philly. The first is the Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Italian Festival which is "dedicated to keeping alive the spirit and faith of the early Italian immigrants," since 1987. The second festival is the Procession of Saints, a market tradition every May. Also located in the heart of South Philly, is the History of Italian Immigration Museum which was founded by Filitalia International, whose mission is to preserve, connect, and share Italian culture. The 9th Street Market and Italian-American history will always be a part of the city of Philadelphia. The story of Italians in Philadelphia is one of resilience, adaptation, and unity. Their influence on the city’s food, culture, history, architecture, and identity is undeniable. Each street, market vendor stall, and Sunday dinner reflects a rich heritage that has endured both hardships as well as love. Italian traditions/customs are celebrated and passed down to the younger generations whilst the memories experienced are forever encapsulated. There is a strong sense of community in South Philadelphia, this is a presence I have felt heavily growing up on 4th Street. Together, Angilina’s story as well as other immigrant stories remind us of the history and progress that exists all around us, in every moment, we were just unaware. I hope that through this awareness, others can learn deeply about the immigrant communities that exist in Philadelphia.