Another business with roots in the French Quarter is also celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
In 1924, Sicilian immigrant Bartholomew Perrone opened Progress Grocery in the 900 block of Decatur Street near the French Market. His food import business predated the grocery, with some sources dating his business, known as B. Perrone & Sons, to 1922.
“Among their stocks are many rare foods that are really hard to get,” explained a 1950 Times-Picayune article. “They feature complete lines of Italian, Greek, Arabic and Syrian foods, as well as many other products from Portugal, Spain, France and Switzerland.”
Progress is best known for its Italian offerings, however, including its version of the muffuletta, the New Orleans-born, Sicilian-style sandwich of meats and cheeses which, like Progress’ longtime neighbor, Central Grocery, it claimed to have originated.
The store on Decatur closed in 2000, but the family business now known as Perrone & Sons, LLC is a gourmet food wholesaler run by members of the third and fourth generations of the family. The company supplies restaurants and grocery stores in the metro area with food products, including its famous muffulettas.
Brothers-in-law Joseph Hurwitz and Morris Mintz were Russian Jewish immigrants who came to New Orleans in 1920 and opened their furniture store together.
