The sign for this Italian-American grocery was assembled from a series of glazed tiles fitted together in line. Since the time of its installation — the 1930s is a good bet, by the look of the typeface — one tile has slipped a bit.
"Fruits" is interesting. Perhaps the signmaker need one more word to balance the design, or perhaps it marks a time when fresh fruit was less easy to come by, and so more worthy of note. Cured, less perishable items, on the other hand, would certainly have been part of the stock in trade. Is it just a coincidence that the grocery was mere steps away from Olive St.?
Linzalato Canio
Surviving signage, 855 Grand St. (Bushwick Ave.-Olive St.), Willamsburg, Brooklyn
