STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Restaurant wholesaler and distributor Pickle Works closed its doors last week. The business had served the food service industry with paper and food products for decades from its warehouse located at 1116 Targee St. in Concord on the East Shore of Staten Island.
Pickle Works is for sale in Concord. The business distributed to the restaurant industry. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Pickle Works was established in 1928 by Frank and Patricia Pfisterer. As its moniker suggests, its founders began in the business of pickling. The family lived originally on Richmond Road behind the store, next to the former St. Simons Church, once a swath of woodsy property now the site of dozens of homes.
Patricia was an unusual figure for the era as both a mother and well-respected businesswoman. As the population increased in the borough and restaurants proliferated, she and Frank grew Pickle Works into a cash-and-carry that was open to the public. The wholesale model expanded further under their children.
A second generation of Pfisterers branched into more products — pizza boxes, cups, napkins, condiments, tomato sauce and dry goods by the case, plus frozen bulk items like French fries — and most anything a chef could use in a professional kitchen.
Indeed, for decades, Pickle Works had served as one of the borough’s most significant sources for pizzeria and restaurant owners, via delivery and a small-scale, in-store grocery shopping experience.
The one notable food category Pickle Works did not sell, however, was fresh produce. That aspect came into the picture only two and half years ago under new ownership.
Recently the business renovated. (Pamela Silvestri/Staten Island Advance)Pamela Silvestri
A new era
On Dec. 17, 2021, a new era began with Phil Farinacci, Peter Botros and Doug Bifulco. Farinacci and Botros had several restaurant endeavors together at the time. Bifulco was rooted in the fruit and vegetable business with the family’s farm. The collaboration included Farinacci’s acumen in the construction business, Botros’ dynamic restaurant experiences and Bifulco’s produce expertise. Pickle Works served as a potential supplier for Bread and Butter Hospitatlity’s New York and New Jersey restaurants.
As the partnership developed, Pickle Works underwent extensive renovations. Even with Restaurant Depot coming to Travis, the Concord operation continued as one of the borough’s reliable wholesale sources.
Botros commented, “Pickle Works has been a Staten Island institution for nearly 100 years. When my partners and I learned it was closing we saw an opportunity to step in and keep the legacy of one of the Island’s oldest running businesses alive.”
He continued, “We put great effort and investment into remodeling as well as expanding on the items offered to better serve our local food service professionals. After a two-and half-year run, we have decided to close the business due to the economic hardship that is wide-felt across our customer base, and the food service industry as a whole.”
The warehouse and land are for sale. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Property for sale
The property addresses of 1116 Targee St. and 20 Columbus Ave. — the side street along which Pickle Works’ warehouse entrance faces — are for sale. It is listed with Ron Molcho and PreReal’s Rob Nixon.
Collectively, it is roughly 14,000 square feet of retail-office-warehouse space. As per listing agents, Nixon and Molcho, the asking price for the whole package is $4,175,000.
Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at [email protected].
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