The original Ancona’s Market, shown in the 1930s, was on Route 7 just south of Route 102. The market was established in 1920.
Ancona’s Market, the town’s oldest continuously-owned family business, will be closing within a couple weeks.
Most of the space occupied by the market already has a new tenant, rumored to be a chain drug store.
Ancona’s Wines and Liquors is not affected by the closing and will continue to be in business.
“This is incredibly bitter sweet, and the new tenant opportunity came at a moment in time when it has become increasingly hard to compete with all of the food market choices in close proximity despite our best efforts,” said Joe Ancona in an announcement on Ancona’s Facebook page.
He said more information would appear in The Press this week.
The market has been facing increasing competition not only from Caraluzzi’s Market, which opened in 2003 about a mile to the south, but also from the new Whole Foods near the Danbury Airport.
On the other hand, Ancona’s Wines and Liquors, operated by Mitch Ancona, has been doing a strong business, and expanded into Wilton about a year ago.
“We thank everyone for their concerns and patronage over the years and Mitch will look forward to everyone’s continued loyalty to Ancona Wines,” Joe Ancona said. “We hope everyone will be excited when the new development is complete, and the Ancona family is committed to continuing to serve the community that we have been a part of for almost a century.”
Ancona’s Market was founded by Joseph Ancona, who arrived in this country in 1912, a poor immigrant from Sicily. In 1920, he established the forerunner of food and package stores in Branchville that were to grow over the years under the ownership of his three sons, Nazzareno, Joseph and John, and his daughter, Phyllis Taylor, and their families. Mr. Ancona was one of Branchville’s most influential citizens for a half century. He died in 1958 at the age of 67.
John and Joseph took over the market and the late Nazzareno “Nano” Ancona, father of Mitchell, ran the liquor store.
The original market was on Route 7. The building is still there, occupied by other businesses, while the larger, modern building off Branchville Road was opened in the early 1980s.
Ancona’s Wines and Liquors, which began when Prohibition was repealed in 1933, will now become the town’s oldest continuously owned family business.