Of American Dreams and Humble Beginnings

If you are brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.

Paolo Coelho

Dear Fellow Foodie,

For my first official post, I felt it was only right to take you back to the beginning—to where it all began with a dream and a whole lot of faith. To do that, it is crucial to mention the people who created Carlino’s and the many recipes that we still serve today.  

My grandparents, Nicola and Angela Carlino, were born and raised in Casoli, Abruzzo, with their respective families. They had met one evening, fell in love, and the rest, as they say, is history. Even though they were deeply in love, their parents didn’t want them to get married for various reasons unbeknownst to me. But my grandparents were stubborn in love, and they eloped anyway. Surely, that is where my rebellious streak comes from!

Once they had gotten married and had two children, Pasquale (my dad) and Carmen, they decided to come to America so that their children would have better opportunities than my grandparents had. Back then, leaving your hometown and your country meant that you were leaving for good. They didn’t know if they would ever be able to go back, but they took a huge leap of faith and thought only of the opportunities they so desperately wanted for their children. In 1968, my grandparents, uncle, and dad came to America and moved to Ardmore, Pennsylvania.  

Growing up and through the years, my grandmother loved cooking and baking. Not only did she find the kitchen a place of solace and peace, but it was also a way for her to share her love of food with those around her. She began baking various Italian cookies and pastries, later pasta and sauce, and selling them to people out of her home until they garnered enough money to open a tiny store on E. County Line Road in 1983. What began as a pipe dream later became my grandparent’s beautiful reality. 

Carlino’s began by making primarily pasta, sauce, and small bakery items. The store was truly a family affair; my dad and his brother handled the day-to-day operations and made sure things ran smoothly. My grandfather mainly cooked with my grandmother while also trying to befriend the people of the area. Still, most people working alongside my family were more family members, including cousins, aunts, and uncles. 

Today, many of our family members, extended and immediate, still work alongside us and have for countless years. We are forever grateful and proud of the bond and endurance of those individuals who continue to work alongside us on this beautiful journey.

Speaking of loyal family members, my mom, Laura Carlino, started working at Carlino’s at 18. From there, her story and her involvement with the store’s growth sort of wrote itself. She was there since its very humble beginning and has continued to be an integral part of Carlino’s growth and success through the years and still is.

While my family was elated by the store’s conception, many trials and tribulations were at play. It was quite challenging to stay open, especially at the beginning. Despite sometimes not making enough to cover rent and my family not paying themselves for many months at a time, Carlino’s remained open and sustained through the impossible. 

Saying that, it wouldn’t truly be my family’s complete history without mentioning the turning point in our lives. In 1990, my grandparent’s eldest son, Carmen, passed in a tragic and sudden accident. There aren’t many words to describe the devastating effects and aftershocks of grief within my entire family. Nearly 31 years later, Carmen’s loss can still be felt as if it happened yesterday. He will forever be a part of our legacy and is one of the most beautiful parts of our entire story. He will forever be missed, and I felt it was only right to include his lasting impact on the store’s creation.

On a much lighter note, the very store that began as a tiny pasta shop has turned into a gourmet market and a purveyor of Italian specialty goods and foods.

People always ask me if I think my grandmother would be happy with our progress or if this is what she would have wanted. Without any semblance of doubt, I can say that she is looking down on us and so unbelievably proud of everything her dream has become. 

My grandparents and parents worked so hard to give my siblings and me everything we have, and I think I can speak for them when I say that we are eternally grateful to continue in their legacy. 

When people speak of the American dream, they think of the white picket fence and 2.5 kids. For my family, the American dream is our very livelihood; it is the place that we get to walk into every day. It is being able to walk along the same ground that my grandparents walked and seeing their recipes and visions living on beyond their existence. This is truly only the beginning for my family, and I cannot wait to see how far we can go. To see how far our American dream extends.

My grandmother, Angela, passed away suddenly on her 70th birthday in November of 2007. My grandfather, Nicola, passed away in February of 2020. They were both surrounded by their loved ones and surely knew how deeply their impact was among all those who they knew. Their love and stories will forever live as long as I write and my family can serve our community with food. 

Never give up on your dreams, dear foodie. Sometimes everything you’ve ever wanted is simply a plane ride away. Or a pasta shop away. It’s up to you! 

Your Friend,

Nadia Carlino