31 Comments
User's avatar
Diane Barbarita's avatar

My mom was related to the Scialo family and worked as a young teenager at the bakery in the 1940’s. She had many wonderful stories she shared about the bakery ,the community, and of course the pastries! Sad to see such an Icon close!

Gil's avatar

Diane, yes! I can relate to your experiences. Going there every week since early childhood became the standard! Sure, local bakeries were used, yet it just seemed like a tradition.

Kathleen's avatar

So sad the good old days of Federal Hill are becoming silent.

Mariep101's avatar

I couldn't last a day without my order a hard rolls to make my sandwiches at our family restaurant. And some lovely pastries for some day-to-day treats. And of course I went to no one elce. 25 years ago you've made my wedding cake delicately done to perfection. You will be in my heart always. God bless Carol staff and family. 😘Marie Merola Pichette.

Linda Cinquegrana's avatar

So sad to see them go. We are losing an era that future generations will never know. Their pastries were out of this world.

Anthony Calise's avatar

With the closing of Scialo's (and the loss of their baker Silvio's French bread "sticks") Rhode Island has lost a larger piece of its historical identity than the word "Plantations." Our State legislators will be remiss if they fail to confer some formal homage to the Scialo family. I will do exactly that by promising to more regularly leave my suburban home to patronize the now possibly also endangered bakeries of my youth, DeLuise Bakery, LaSalle Bakery, and, not least, 7-Stars.

Gil's avatar

I’ll miss the weekly drives to buy the warm well done Sicilian bread in the morning. I started going there with my grand mother and aunts & uncles starting at 4 years old. Now, at 77 a part of my routine has passed. I’ll miss the great front desk employees. If they read this,, you’ll remember me as the Disabled Vet with a cane, we spoke about Spain, you visited there as well.

Memories will last forever. Thank you for all you’ve done. Thank you again and again. We also talked about my career as Exec. pastry chef at the old Sheraton Biltmore Hotel.

Gil's avatar

Thank you Walter! Enjoyed a 52 year career from The Biltmore 15 years, the last 5 Exec. Pastry chef, then chef Manager for 22 years at the old Holiday Inn in Attleboro, when they closed in 92 I ended my career with Chef for 16 years at PC for the Dominican Priests. Thank you for your wisdom and guidance. It seems that The old guard is slowly disappearing , but our memories remain vivid with what our ancestors brought from the old country. As my grandmother once said,, “ I brought my mothers rolling pin from Italy in 1898”.

Gil's avatar

Walter, you might remember my son in law Tom Conte and his wife Kristen. They continue to entertain Weddings each year. Some 50 odd weddings per year. My daughter is The wedding photographer, the Best photographer 5 years in a row for The Knot magazine.

Gil's avatar

Thank you Ealter.

Richard Chadwell's avatar

Live in Florida and ordered from Scislo's. Their pastries were the best. Lois was my Son's Class Advisor.

Richard Chadwell's avatar

Live in Florida and ordered from Scislo's. Their pastries were the best. Lois was my Son's Class Advisor.

Wanda Jean's avatar

'eat safe and wear a mask' ... it's mask wearing and related unnecessary shutdowns that kill treasured small businesses like this one...

Only the Finest's avatar

Thank you Walter, for sharing this story. You phrased the challenges and sacrifices facing family business so eloquently. I will miss Scialo’s zuppa inglese most of all.

Julie Spinella's avatar

So sad! This bakery made the Italian cookie trays for our son & daughter in laws wedding last Oct. The cookies were amazing! God Bless them for keeping our Italian traditions going. May you find peace, health and happiness in retirement.

Christine martin's avatar

So sad to see another Federal Hill landmark disappear. Surely, an end of an era........

Rose Mcclarnon's avatar

So sad to see it close

Eric Knight's avatar

Rest In Peace Mrs. Ellis! You were a phenomenal teacher!

Richard Chadwell's avatar

Live in Florida and ordered from Scislo's. Their pastries were the best. Lois was my Son's Class Advisor.

Flavors and Knowledge's avatar

It has been a tough pill to swallow for many here. Their reputation goes back to generations of many happy customers ty from PVD

A. G. Roberto's avatar

I wonder how Luigi Scialo was able to immigrate into the USA in 1916 as that was in the middle of World War I (1914-1918). The Italians fought with the Western allies, and German u-boats were sinking ships. Ships were used for war at sea and for bringing troops and supplies to Europe.

Just wondering!

Flavors and Knowledge's avatar

The Le Fabre line brought people from Marseille, Naples, Lisbon, Azores to PVD the second port of entry in The US. Germans attacked was based on flags. Le Fabre carried Panamanian flags.

Steven Dilorenzo's avatar

Walter maybe you should jump in there and continue the dynasty....