The staff of WestView News is saddened by the death of Peter Ottomanelli last month after a brief illness. Our condolences to his family. Peter and three of his brotherswent into the meat business established by their father OnofrioOttomanelli. His brothers Frank, Jerry and Joe survive him at the shop at 285 Bleecker Street.
Onofrio founded the butcher shop on Bleecker Street shortly after he returned from service in World War II. He was born in New York City in 1917, moving to his grandparents’ farm in Bari, Italy at age 3, where his grandmother taught his the butchering trade. He returned to NYC at age 20. The shop sells specialties from Bari, made in-house.
The parents raised six sons and a daughter in the West Village. They first lived on Bleecker Street and later on Perry Street and on Charles Street. Onofrio’s motto was “live, work and trade in the Village.” The shop offers a large selection of cuts, including exotic game, at reasonable prices. It supplies the better restaurants.
