After 90 years, it’s the end of an era for one of Australia’s oldest family groceries

Many family businesses are passed down the generations. When that isn't possible, it can mean the end of an era. And that’s exactly what's happening at the Galluzzo family grocery in Sydney.

Damian Galluzzo's family started their grocery 90 years ago in Sydney. Source: SBS / Spencer Austad

Damian Galluzzo is hard at work at an iconic local grocery in Sydney.

As he has done for more than 30 years, Damian started work at 2am collecting fresh produce from the Sydney Markets.

"That's the secret of our success," says Damian, 52.

"We go to the market six days a week. We pick everything fresh. We have a good look and we taste, especially the fruit."

Damian and his brother Joe have run the Galluzzo family’s grocery business in Sydney’s inner west suburb of Glebe for most of their adult lives.

The Galluzzo family grocery was started 90 years ago by Damian's grandfather Salvatore, a migrant from Italy’s Calabria. Source: SBS / Spencer Austad

Locally, the fruit and vegetable store is famous for its street-side displays.

The owners also know most of their customers by name.

"I've been coming here for eight years now and the freshness is fantastic. It's fresh every day," says Balmain resident Renay Jordan-Hawkins.

"My daughter-in-law put me onto it and I won't go anywhere else."

Damian says he's tired of 14-hour days and is ready to retire.

Because his kids don't want to take it on, he is gradually handing the business over to new owners.

However, old habits are hard to break.

"Even though we've sold the business, I'll still get up at 1:30 in the morning to go to the markets because that's what I'm used to and that's what I love,"he says.

"It's very exciting there early in the morning, it's like a different world."

 

It may be the end of an era for the Galluzzo family, but Damian remains fiercely proud of the business that was started 90 years ago by grandfather Salvatore, a migrant from Italy’s Calabria.

Damian Galluzzo's mum Melina and his grandfather Salvatore. Source: Supplied / Damian Galluzzo

He opened the doors in 1934 during the Great Depression when unemployment in NSW hit a staggering 32 per cent.

"Salvatore Galluzzo worked and saved money to buy the place here, but being a new Australian in a very Anglo area, it was very hard," says Damian.

"But my grandfather pushed through it, and he made a lot of friends."

Those friends and customers stayed loyal as Salvatore grew the venture, eventually handing the reins to his son Frank who later passed it on to his sons: Joe and Damian.

Damian Galluzzo (third from left) with his siblings. Source: Supplied / Damian Galluzzo

"I'm the youngest of seven, the baby boy of seven. Growing up in the family with six brothers and one sister. That was fantastic," says Damian.

"We lived above the shop, and part of our routine was to help in the shop after school.

"We used to mop the floors and do the rubbish ... that was pretty much our lives growing up."

Though Damian qualified for mechanical engineering and dreamed of designing cars, he started full-time in the family business after finishing high school at the age of 18.

The interior of the Galluzzo family grocery. Source: SBS / Spencer Austad

"I was doing what my grandfather did. But they worked seven days a week, and so did we initially, then we stopped doing seven days and cut back to six days.

"Also, they were open late, like until 10 at night. We close at seven o'clock at night."

Over the decades, those weren’t the only changes. Computers have replaced the record books now and, more recently, the Galluzzo brothers expanded into smallgoods.

"We have a deli and now it's Italian influence and we stock a lot of pastas, cheeses, smallgoods and cold meats,” he says. "So it adds value for people."

Daniel (left) and Josh Flamminio are new owners of the fruit store. Source: SBS / Spencer Austad

However, Damian says their best move was finding another pair of brothers with Italian heritage this year, to take over the business.

"We are so glad that we found Dan and Josh Flamminio," he says.

"Everything just fell in place, all the stars aligned!"

"Having this business for 90 years and being able to pass that on to these two boys and with the same attitude is great, because we're getting tired.

"They've got energy and vision, which is what this place needs.”

The store's original facade displays its foundation date of 1934. Source: SBS / Spencer Austad

Out of respect for the store's long history, it's now known as Galluzzo Fruiterers by Dan and Josh.

With a background in food and hospitality, the Flamminio brothers are well-placed to expand the iconic business. And there are other similarities, too.

"The coincidence runs deep. Little did we know, but they went to Christian Brothers Lewisham High School, and that's where Josh and I went," says Daniel.

The Flamminio family migrated in the 1950s from Italy’s Abruzzo, east of Rome. Daniel says they have big plans to grow the business, which will draw on some Flamminio family traditions.

Damian Galluzzo (centre) with new owners Josh Flamminio (left) and brother Daniel. Source: SBS / Spencer Austad

"We have had plenty of experience on the smallgoods side," says Josh Flamminio.

 

"And then obviously growing up in an Italian household you've got your nonna, specifically nonna cooking we've got visions of doing a made-to-order panini bar inside the deli. We want to introduce a fresh fruit salad. Fresh juice bar.

"Yeah, so we've got a lot of ideas."

Like most family business owners, they are cautious about expanding too fast in current economic conditions.

The Galluzzo deli in Glebe. Source: SBS / Spencer Austad

"To purchase an iconic store like this, it's a humongous risk," says Daniel.

"Rome wasn't built in a day and this business has been tremendously successful for 90 years and we don't want to upset too many people too soon.

"So, currently what we're focusing on is the wholesale side of the business — cafes, restaurants, pubs, clubs."

Damian says that, like most of Australia’s 2.5 million small businesses, the Galluzzo grocery is operating in tough times.

"Nothing's cheap, you have to watch every penny," says Damian.

"The cost of running a business has risen. You pay more for electricity, utilities and wages.

So perhaps a little brotherly love is what matters most?

Damian Galluzzo (left) with his mother Melina (centre) and brother Joe. Source: Supplied / Damian Galluzzo

"During tough times, my brother and I supported each other and hopefully that's why we're still here," says Damian.

"And so, now Dan and Josh will hopefully do the same thing and that'll get them through the hard times."

For their part, the Flamminios hope to guide the business from its 90^th celebrations to an even bigger milestone.

“If Josh and I are around for the next 10 years, and we haven't killed ourselves, then we will celebrate an amazing party for the 100^th year," says Daniel.