Tag Archives: Gino Bartucci

On June 29, members of the Harlem Avenue Little Italy Business Association met with representatives from the Chicago Department of Planning and Development and two urban planning firms to come up with a strategy for developing Harlem Avenue from North to Lawrence avenues. HALIBA board members gave their guests a tour of the area, introducing them to local businesses and offering a sense of the area’s rich Italian history. The tour began at the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame at 3417 N. Harlem Ave. “This museum is going to be the anchor of Harlem Avenue, bringing tourists from …

When Azzurri fans heard that the Bartucci family was hosting a screening of the Eurocup final at Piazza Italia, they turned out in droves. The parking lot was awash with green, white and red as audience members gritted their way through a tense match between Italy and England. When the Azzurri emerged victorious, the crowd erupted into a celebration that poured out onto Harlem Avenue. “It was a proud day for the community and for our Little Italy,” said Harlem Avenue Little Italy Business Association President Gino Bartucci.  

After a 25-year hiatus, the Harlem Avenue Little Italy Business Association is returning with loads of enthusiasm, a new logo and plenty of gear. Funds to kick-start the organization are being generated through the sales of T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and other branded items available on the organization’s website and at member businesses. “Gear is a great way to raise money as well as profile,” says recently elected President Gino Bartucci. “We want the world to know we’re back in business and ready to start promoting our culture and community again.” Some readers may be asking, “Which Gino Bartucci?” That’s a …

Like every other local restaurant, BarTucci’s on Harlem Avenue has been hit hard by the pandemic. With business slowed to a crawl and inventory sitting in coolers, owner Gino Bartucci stepped out onto the street in mid-March with bagged lunches that he distributed for free to Chicago Streets and Sanitation workers. Bartucci has stayed afloat since then by selling meals to curbside customers. Meanwhile, he has broadened his generosity to embrace first responders and health care workers, as well as veterans and the homeless, bestowing more than 5,000 meals to date. “Our most important priority right now is taking care …

Born in Italy and trained by the Army as a cameraman, Gino Bartucci toured the country photographing atomic bombs, filming bombers flying overhead and helping create documentaries. Gino Bartucci was born in Malvitani di Rende, a small village in Calabria. Of the nine children born to Vincenzo and Maria Carmella (Pisello) Bartucci, six survived infancy. The family farm provided almost everything they needed. “We didn’t have to buy anything but salt, sugar … that’s about it,” Bartucci says. He attended a one-room school with about a dozen students. In 1955, Bartucci’s father immigrated to Chicago, bringing one son and his …

Gino Bartucci is no stranger to the food industry. His father, Gino, ran the legendary Gino’s Italian Imports in the family owned Piazza Italia on Harlem Avenue for many years, and his uncle, Tony, has run Pasta Fresh in the same cluster of shops for decades. Bartucci grew up in both businesses, so it should come as no surprise that he has made a name for himself, not only as the food and beverage director for the Dana Hotel & Spa, but as the new proprietor of BarTucci, which he opened late last year in Piazza Italia with his business …