Joe’s Daughter Shares Her Favorite Memories
Joe’s Super Variety before its demolition late last year.
The bricks and mortar are gone from Joe’s Super Variety but there are decades of “moments” out there waiting to be told.
WEN is recording memories from Joe’s with help from neighbor Deborah Freedman. Share your memories with info@thewestendnews.com and we will pass it on to the Discatio family.
Joe’s daughter, Teresa Discatio, had this to share:
When I was in my teens I worked at the store making sandwiches. It was a busy place and loud. After all we are Italian.
My dad always looked out for me and made sure no one was being wise with me. He was always busy ringing up groceries, taking in deliveries, and just dealing with his many loyal customers.
The former site of Joe’s will soon become 8 stories of residential housing with a new variety store at street level.
It wouldn’t be unusual for my father to rush out of the store — asking one of my brothers to watch the front — to chase a shoplifter down the street. Dad worked hard and he didn’t go for that, even if he had to chase someone many years younger than himself.
It was like an extended family at the store. There were the regulars who hung out talking sports, politics, and current events. Dad had a genuine interest in his customers. Many became dear friends. It wouldn’t be unusual for him to invite one of them to share Thanksgiving or Sunday dinner with us.
Most of my family did a stint working there at one time or another in their life. My two oldest brothers and one younger brother stayed on with him, so it was always a family business. There were a lot of laughs along the way.
Dad was a justice of the peace and actually performed a wedding in the back where the wine department was.
I believe his customers relied on him as much as he relied on them. He really had a genuine interest in the community around the store.
Good memories and sad that it is gone. It is the end of an era that will not soon be forgotten. Good luck to the new store and carry on…
-Teresa
