Prior to the opening of Luigi's, I asked my Dad
to share the Caniglia history with me. To his delight, I wrote the
following poem, which hung in the restaurant until Pearl closed
it after Louís death.
THE CANIGLIA STORY
The Rosario Caniglia family came to Omaha in early 1900.
In the "new country" they worked baking their native
Italian bread.
The bread was baked in a 20 foot oven made of brick and stone.
The sons worked together and their tasty bread was well known.
Dad Rosario died and the old oven lay cold for 10 years,
Till son Cirino reopened the bakery amid Depression fears.
Cirino and Giovanna raised a large, handsome family —
Grace, Ross, Lou, Eli, Yano, and Al make up the family tree.
Once again, Caniglia sons manned the oven side by side,
They produced their tasty product and sold it with pride.
Dad, Mom, and sons had to knead dough with their hands,
Torn-down buildings supplied wood for the ovenís demands.
As business grew they split logs to fill the wood shed,
It was hard work and long hours to make the twist bread.
Every day before school Lou rose to deliver their fare.
He used a panel truck ñ his ancestors used a mare.
In 1939 Golden Spike Days were on, it was great fun!
Beards and mustaches on the men, 1889 clothes on everyone.
The sons were grown and their families begun,
They took other jobs and left the bakery, one by one.
World War II changed their lives; four sons went off to war.
Dad, Mom, and young Al were left to tend the store.
In 1942 in a Baltimore restaurant, Eli tried a "new"
item,
It was an old family dinner, but "pizza" is what they
called them.
It was made in a bakery with a restaurant on top.
Maybe the Caniglias could do this — they had the bake shop.
He couldn't believe the lines of people and pizza's popularity.
Would Omahans like pizza? What would Cirino's thoughts be?
He wrote letters to his dad and his brothers with the idea,
It would be a joint venture for the five Brothers Caniglia.
Everyone agreed to the restaurant with pizza and brew.
Lou said, "Let's have a variety of foods on our menu."
When the war was over and America won her victory.
The Caniglias headed home to build their dynasty.
A dining room was built in front of the old bakery,
August 3, 1946 Caniglia's Pizzaria opened — the rest is history.
Lou cooked, Yano and Eli made pizza, and Ross tended bar,
School age Al helped where needed — Cirino knew they'd go
far.
The wives waited tables and pizza's popularity began to grow,
It became painfully obvious the old brick oven had to go.
With sadness and joy a new room was added on,
A gas oven was bought and the old woodshed was gone.
For eight years only Caniglia's served pizza in town,
Their gracious service and fine food brought them renown.
Cirino, Giovanna, and Eli are with us no more,
But Caniglia pizza lives on, the "Original One" you
adore!
Lou owns Luigi's and Yano, Mr. C's; Al has Caniglia's Steak
House — they still work with their families.
Grace has Piccolo's; Ross, the Pizzaria and Eli's sons the Venice
Inn — they all serve great food and continue to please!
Written with love and pride
June 28, 1985
As time passes, the written word becomes outdated.
Lou and Pearl's family has continued to grow. They have 15 grandchildren,
eight of whom are married, and 12 great-children. Unfortunately,
our family has also had to say goodbye to Ross and Helen Caniglia,
and Tony Piccolo, husband of Grace.
I hope you enjoyed my trip down memory lane as
much as I enjoyed taking you there. The Caniglia family has been
an integral part of the early history of Omaha and I am proud of
my heritage. The Omaha World Herald published a book called "Omaha"
and Ross, Lou, and Al are included in it. I find that to be a fitting
tribute to a family that has added so much to the fabric of the
city.
