The moment you walk into a Citarella market, you’re immediately consumed by vast assortment of the freshest and finest gourmet offerings. The awe-inspiring selection of the freshest seafood displayed on ice, in its full glory. The amazing cuts of prime aged beef – including impressive, gigantic porterhouse and cowboy steaks – as well as double thick Berkshire pork chops. The tantalizing aromas of chef-prepared specialties and aged cheeses from around the world. The vibrant colors of nature’s grandest produce. And of course, a smorgasbord of baked goods to rival the finest pastry shops in town. It’s all so sensory and glorious, and the fascinating story of how Citarella came to be the quintessential place for these gourmet experiences all started with one man, owner Joe Gurrera, and his commitment to excellence.

Joe’s passion for the finest foods began at his family’s seafood store in Greenwich Village. Every morning, when most people were still snuggled warmly in their beds, you could find Joe at NYC’s iconic Fulton Fish Market amid the clamor of trucks, slamming pallets and din of voices at this hectic but always exciting market. It was during those years that Joe became an expert on every variety of seafood that exists, as well as how to procure only the very best of it. It was an invaluable education.

News of Joe’s expertise found its way to sunny California and his amazing journey really took off when celebrated chef Wolfgang Puck contacted him with a request: to provide him with the kinds of seafood that just weren’t available on the West Coast at that time. With this once in a lifetime opportunity, Joe rose to the challenge and flew from NY to LA every week to deliver the finest seafood the East Coast had to offer to Wolfgang as well as other top restaurateurs in LA.

With his rapid rise to success fueled by countless hours of hard work, Joe was ready to make his next career move. He had always loved a local seafood shop called Citarella. Located on NYC’s lovely Upper West Side, this small market had an amazing reputation for fine seafood offerings. Right up Joe’s alley, and when the store became available for sale, he bought it in 1983.

Joe also bought well-known Lockwood & Winant, a 100 year old wholesale seafood company that he eventually grew to have the largest footprint at the Fulton Fish Market. With that in place, he was poised to bring Citarella to new heights, and with master butcher Charlie Gagliardo by his side, he expanded the market to include the finest prime meats available – all dry-aged for 21 days. Then, with the expertise of Italy’s Chef Carolina Perego and Chef Fedele Bruno, Joe was able to provide handcrafted pastries and chef-prepared foods created from the finest ingredients to some of the most discerning palates in the world - those of his customers

Joe has spent his entire life in pursuit of the best food in the world, and his mission is to bring these most exceptional products directly to your table. It’s been his life’s journey, and he continues to surprise and delight his valued customers every day.

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