A Year After a Devastating Fire, Bakery on Norton St. Baking Again
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A year after fire gutted a popular Rochester bakery and deli, it's back in business.
Opened by Italian immigrants, Riccardo's has been on Norton Street for more than 40 years. A fire that started in a ceiling light in September 2011 almost burned down the entire shop.
"I can't describe it... bad, it was bad," said former owner Riccardo Radicia.
Radicia's brother Joe now owns the shop. He spent the last year rebuilding almost everything. Riccardo's started serving customers again this week.
"A lot of people they've been calling [saying] 'When you open? When you open?' Ahhh. God bless them. All my brother's friends, relatives helped him out," said Riccardo Radicia.
"It was from roof to basement, everything was re-done," said Amanda Balcer, Joe's niece who's helped out in the store since she was a little girl.
Nearby neighbor Joe Cancille said he comes to the store once or twice a week to buy bread, cold cuts and soda.
"I thought maybe they wouldn't open again. But they did a wonderful job. It looks really, really nice."
Last year's fire was not the first in the bakery's history. Another fire there three decades ago swept through the back of the shop. Once again, they've rebuilt and are back to baking bread.