D'Agostino Supermarket history

"In the 1950's and 60's, when meat was the nation's mainstay, it was a big plus to have high-quality product at the supermarket," said Nicholas Jr., who is D'Agostino's chairman.

Patsy died in the 1960’s, and by then there were 8 stores.

In the 1970's, D'Agostino's spread to the West Side.

Stephen was named president and chief executive officer in 1972.

The Greenwich Avenue store was opened in the 1980’s in a building used for steel storage and some fabrication.

There were 17 stores in 1981, with annual sales totaling an estimated $70 million to $100 million.

D'Agostino turned over day-to-day operation of the business to his two sons, Stephen and Nicholas Jr., but he remained active as an adviser and mentor until 1984.

In 1986 D'Agostino's introduced Tele-A-Dag, a telephone delivery service offering goods available through a rented warehouse in the Bronx.

By the end of 1988 the chain had grown to 24 stores--20 in Manhattan--and an estimated $200 million in sales.

Among the perishable products introduced in a "Good For You, New York" weekly circular in 1990 were organic produce, deli selections low in fat and cholesterol, "light" selections from the dairy case, and preservative-free lasagna and carrot cake.

During the same year all of its 26 stores introduced frozen organic produce, wrapped in polybags, for the organic produce sections it introduced in 1991.

In 1992 D'Agostino's opened its first pharmacy department in a store at Amsterdam Avenue and 59th Street in Manhattan, near Roosevelt Hospital.

In 1993 the company was selling more than 200 President's Choice products and 15 premium perishable products under its own name, including juices as well as chicken.