OPERATION: SAVE FARAGALLI'S

Last month Faragalli’s bakery – a South Philly institution – suffered a devastating loss to their generations-old family business when the water department began doing work outside of their building. As a result, their pre-World War I wood-fired oven was damaged beyond a simple repair, and they’ve had to shut down operations on a family owned business they’ve kept running since 1945. This tiny bakery is one of the few reminders left of a simpler time in our city. It represents South Philadelphia culture, and the importance of keeping family heritage alive. Anthony & Marie Faragalli bought the corner bakery in 1945 and raised 7 children above it. From there, Phillip took it over in the early 80’s. They make bread the old school way and it’s on the tables of many of the restaurants you know and love all over the city – all from the same oven that started it all so many decades ago. He’s spent his life climbing inside the hot oven & making repairs, doing everything he possibly could to keep it going and to provide for his family -- only for it to be gone in an instant. He planned to pass the bakery on to his kids and keep the institution going for generations to come. If you’ve ever had Faragalli’s bread – the taste is unmistakable – and not just because it’s rare to find simple, wood-fired bread, but because of the passion of the generations of family that put their heart and soul into it. As a close friend of the Faragalli's my entire life, I’m hoping we can come together as a community to help the family get their bakery back up and running. They’re some of the kindest, most wonderful people I’ve been lucky to know. If you’ve ever spoken to Phil & his son, you know the bakery is their entire life and they’ve baked bread there every morning for decades with a smile on their face. Please donate to help keep this South Philly institution alive!

(The photo used is from The Philadelphia Inquirer.)