In 1921, La Colonia Italiana di New Haven documented dozens of Italian immigrant businesses—grocers, tailors, cobblers, saloons, pharmacies—that formed the backbone of our community. These weren’t just shops; they were gathering places where neighbors became family, where the old country met the new, where dreams took root on American soil.

Now we’re bringing that history back to life through an interactive digital map that tells the story of each business and the families behind them. But the official record captures only part of the story. We need your help to complete the picture.

Did your great-grandfather run a bakery on Wooster Street? Does your family still have the business license, old receipts, or photos of the storefront? Did your nonna talk about shopping at Russo’s or getting her hair done at a salon near Chapel Street? Whether it’s a faded photograph tucked in an album, a handwritten ledger from the basement, or a story passed down through generations, your contribution helps preserve this vital chapter of New Haven history.