I know everyone loves Arthur Ave!!! And everyone also has all their favorite places where they like to do their shopping. A few years ago, in response to so many requests, I did my own Arthur Ave Shopping Tour and discovered so many good hidden gems. I definitely do not go there enough though and I really want to learn more about the area. My amazing Blogging friend Stacy Knows posted a great guide to preparing for Easter on Arthur Ave. I had to copy her and share the information with you. So here goes….

In advance of Easter, Sunday, April 4, the Belmont Business Improvement District (BID) is egg-cited to announce that a variety of merchants in Bronx Little Italy will feature a number of offerings available to help shoppers and visitors celebrate safely. The neighborhood features New York City’s best, authentic Italian restaurants, bakers, delicatessens, pastry shops, and specialty stores and is often owned and operated by the same families that founded them nearly a century ago.

Whether you’re filling baskets for little ones, creating an egg hunt or making a special dinner for your loved ones or your social distancing pod, local merchants will be offering specialty Easter bread, chocolate eggs, hand painted marzipan lambs, fresh lamb meat and roasts,  and more. There’s something for everyone to enjoy and be hoppy about this year with offerings available for shipping, delivery, or in-store purchase.

2021 Easter Offerings Include

Madonia Bakery and Addeo Bakery – Madonia Bakery and Addeo Bakery are both multi-generational, family-owned bakeries well known for their specialty Easter bread, which is a sweet Italian tradition. Baked in the shape of a wreath, the specialty bread is made with three pieces of dough braided together to represent the Holy Trinity. Both bakeries are open for takeout.

Vincent’s Meat Market – Family owned and operated since 1954, Vincent’s Meat Market has been providing high quality, fresh meat, and poultry sourced from reputable farms. Offering a variety of lamb roasts, a very popular and traditional meat to serve on Easter, Vincent’s Meat Market is open for in store shopping, delivery and shipping.

Artuso Pastry – Established in 1946, Artuso Pastry has become a nationally recognized culinary treasure through dedication and authenticity, one fabulous cannoli at a time. The shop manufactures 10 million cannoli a year and this Easter, customers can customize their own cannoli at the cannoli bar. Additional offerings include Struffoli, also known as honey balls, a staple on the Italian dessert table for Easter. The Neapolitan dish is made of deep fried dough with honey, among other sweet ingredients. Artuso’s is open for in store purchase and shipping.

Gino’s Pastry Shop – Celebrating over 60years in business, owner, Jerome Raguso, maintains the shops traditional roots and honors the recipes of his father, the founder. Every Easter, Jerome offers hand painted marzipan lambs, a traditional Sicilian delicacy that are hard to come by these days, as well as handmade Easter biscuits. Available for in store purchase and shipping.

Teitel Brothers & Cerini Coffee & Gifts – Leading up to Easter, shoppers can find a plethora of Chocolate Easter Eggs in a variety of chocolates, fillings, and even some with little toys. Perfect for filling Easter baskets or the dessert table, both stores are open for in-store shopping and available for shipping.