THE LAST ITALIANS

The Last Italians is an on-going project that focuses on the last Italians left in the area of Little Italy, New York City.
As New York City becomes increasingly gentrified, many ethnic neighborhoods are disappearing. Manhattan’s Little Italy, a longtime haven for Italian families, is now being threatened by gentrification and an expanding Chinatown. Once the heart of Italian-American life in New York City, Little Italy now only exists as nostalgia.

DI PALO'S

Di Palo’s has been open since the 1920’s and is one of the last Italian-American stores remaining in the heart of Little Italy, despite the changes in the neighborhood, the Di Palo family hopes to pass the store on to their next generation and keep the family tradition alive.

Lou Di Palo cutting cheese at his store in Little Italy. Lou is the fourth generation of the Di Palo's family that came into the United States, he continues to carry their heritage and hopes to pass it on to the fifth generation of his family. Feb., 6, 2016. New York, NY

A customer waits in line to be served at Di Palos on Feb 13 2016. Little Italy, New York

Maria one of the employees at Di Palo's prepares pasta on Feb. 13, 2016 Little Italy, New York

Rene Alvarado, age 41 prepares fresh mozzarella cheese at Di Palo's. Rene Is originally from Colombia, and has been working at the Di Palo's store for over 10 years. Feb. 16, 2016. Little Italy, New York