Giovanni 'Johnny' Angiuli, the 81-year-old owner of Eastside Italian Deli, passed away due to cardiac arrest, leaving a significant mark on the Los Angeles culinary scene. Working tirelessly for decades alongside his brother Frank, he became a fixture in a community iconic for its Little Italy heritage. Described as loud and selfless, he endeared himself to customers, once personally deciding their sandwiches and keeping tabs for those in need. His legacy lives on through his three sons who now operate the deli, ensuring Johnny's warm, familial service continues.
“He always made customers feel like family, that's what they came in for,” said Anthony Angiuli, his eldest son. “They still to this day ask, 'How's your father?'”
Giovanni Angiuli was born in 1943 in Bari and before he learned the meat trade as a butcher, he was a touring entertainer.
Johnny Angiuli was nicknamed the Singing Butcher from Naples, though he wasn't from Naples at all.
The family traveled west and when they landed in L.A., the local Italian community pointed Johnny to what was then called Eastside Market.
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