Teitel Brothers

Teitel Brothers is an Arthur Avenue legend with a remarkable story. In 1915, two Austrian Jewish immigrant brothers—Jacob and Morris Teitel—opened an Italian grocery store in the heart of the Bronx’s Little Italy. Over 110 years later, their third-generation family business remains the oldest specialty food store on Arthur Avenue and the neighborhood’s only surviving Jewish-owned establishment.

The Teitel brothers arrived at Ellis Island in 1912 as tailors, but they saw opportunity in serving their Italian neighbors. Despite never having visited Italy, they learned Italian before English and built relationships with importers who could provide authentic products. When their landlord warned them in the 1930s to hide their Jewish identity as fascism rose in Europe, the brothers responded defiantly—installing a Star of David mosaic at the entrance that remains there today.

Walk into Teitel Brothers and you’ll find over 2,000 products lining every available surface: imported Parmigiano-Reggiano aged to perfection, hand-sliced prosciutto di Parma, estate-bottled olive oils from Sicily, San Marzano tomatoes, dried pasta from Gragnano, aged balsamic vinegar, Italian tuna packed in olive oil, and countless other treasures. Their cheese selection alone is worth the trip—from creamy burrata to sharp Pecorino Romano, all cut to order and sold at prices that honor their founding principle of honest value.

But Teitel Brothers is more than just a store—it’s a living piece of New York history. Eddie Teitel, one of three brothers running the business today with their father Gilbert, travels to Italy regularly to source products directly and maintain the relationships that keep their shelves stocked with the finest Italian provisions available.

The Daily News called Teitel Brothers’ sausage the best in New York. Customers come from across the tri-state area (and now, across the country) for their house-brand Edda olive oil, their perfectly cured meats, and their unmatched selection of authentic Italian products. What keeps them coming back isn’t just the products—it’s the warmth, knowledge, and genuine care that turns first-time shoppers into lifelong customers.

For over a century, Teitel Brothers has proven that heritage isn’t about where you’re from—it’s about the passion, quality, and integrity you bring to everything you do.