When my grandfather Guiseppe started the business, his inventory was brought in every morning and sold at the end of every day. A fish monger with a dream, he pushed his products through the streets of Philadelphia, working long days and nights catering to his customers. Guiseppe learned the ways of business in America, and as his business grew, so did his family. Guiseppe, his wife Concetta, and his four children, all worked hard together. As the profits grew, “Mr. Joe” as the customers called him, began to improve his company.
A horse and wagon followed the push cart, and the wagon grew larger handling a varied selection and greater quantities. He not only was able to buy better with the increased sales, but was able to better service his customers by buying another horse and wagon for quicker deliveries. Two horses became three, and the wagons became the latest in modern technology, the truck.
My mother Rose, being the oldest child, managed Guiseppe’s first store on 13th and Dickinson. As my grandfather developed the streets, his daughter developed the walk-in trade at the store. Slowly, Mr. Joe began to see the true potential of expansion. At the young age of 13, Rose was able to buy and sell for her father, eventually running the business at the corner store. As the business prospered and grew in the 40′s and 50′s, again so did our family. We all helped with the work, no one was exempt. All of our cousins, uncles and aunts were deputized at Christmas, and that’s where I come in.
As a young boy in the 60′s, the fish were like toys to me. When my mom was at work, I would try to guess what fish were on display. With all the different colors and shapes, “Fisher Price” had nothing on Ippolitos. I loved being in the store, and my grandfather knew it. He developed a relationship with his grandson as he did his business, with love and patience. After losing his only son, I became the heir apparent being the only son of his eldest daughter.
School didn’t interest me. Fish was the business I wanted to be in and I followed my dreams. As fish consumption grew in the U.S., I knew I was in the right place at the right time. We began to see many different species coming to of our corner store. As my selection grew, so did our customer base. Restaurants would come to us for their needs. In 1974, Guiseppe retired and moved back to Sicily, Italy. I graduated Central High School and finished my education at Ippolito’s Seafood, later managing the business for my mother.
By 1989 we were busting out all over and we decided to start another separate company, ‘Samuels and Son Seafood’. This new company would concentrate on the wholesale business and Ippolitos continued its success in the retail trade. My father Sam was in sales at the time, so I asked him to join with me and train our sales team.
My wife Donna, always at my side, sacrificed a lot to make it work. We raised a family of four children and still managed to grow the business further.
My mom and grandfather both passed away, but we still continued to run both businesses and we grew.
Samuel D’Angelo