Is there only one Little Italy in New York City? And, if so, where is it? East Harlem, Bensonhurst?

There are a few. The largest Italian enclave is in Brooklyn around Bensonhurst/Dyker Beach. The Manhattan one (downtown) is all but gone (as is the East Harlem one) and the Bronx one (in the Belmont section) is quickly shrinking.

There are smaller sections in Brooklyn (southern Court Street, for one) and Queens (Howard Beach) but they're shrinking as well.

A lot has changed here in the last 40 years, or so.

OK Thanks SC.
In which one is the famous Mulbery Street?

This is being moved to the "General Discussion" forum.

Mulberry Street is the downtown Manhattan one. It still has a lot of Italian restuarants but its population is mainly Chinese now.

Mulbery Street is in downtown Manhattan, right next to Chinatown. But, as SC said, it's pretty much almost gone. Mostly a tourist trap now, although there are still a few decent restaurants. Arthur Avenue in the Bronx is much better, IMHO.

Is Umberto's clam bar still in Little Italy?

Also there used to be a decent place near Umbertos where the staff sings operas.

Umberto's is still there. Its moved (a few blocks) from the one in which Joey Gallo was killed.

The "opera" singing waiters --- were you thinking of Asti's? If so, thats closed now. (It used to be on 12th Street).

Seems like ever since John Gotti was put away that Little Italy is disapearing.

DS

Well in truth DS, what I think has happened over the last decade or so it that :

Many of the old timers who owned those buildings and stores have passed on or moved out and have sold to the chinese busnesses. By doing this it obviously diminshed the presence of the Italian eateries and stores, which have now been replaced the chinese businesses.

As for your "since Gotti" statement, well there is also some truth to that. Many of the businesses and buildings were owned and run by the "oldtime" mobsters. But over the last decade many have died, and many have gone to prison for a long time. The younger generation of mobsters, well whatevers left of them, have different ideals and ideas and have not held the "traditions" of the area in as high esteem as the older mobsters had throughout the years. So they sold out the businesses and buildings that were owned by many years by the old timers.

If you go there these days you will see that ChinaTown has expanded tremendously while Little Italy has shrunk to about an area of 2 to 3 blocks.


Don Cardi