Heights Grocery Takes Us Back to the Old Country
He's a sausage-making singer, and she has stories for days. Together they try to paint a picture of Italian tradition.
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“Mmm, it smells good in here,” said Dominic Cinchetti as he walked into D & D Foods.
With a bandage covering his neck, he stopped to breathe a sigh of relief, near the bags of pasta. Cinchetti couldn’t wait to get back to old friends. He couldn’t wait to get back to sausage and tamarindo syrup.
A firefighter in Chicago Heights for over thirty years, Dominic was now fighting for his life. As Mary Ann Damiani-Spyrison cut cheese with a guitar string, he told her about his recent trachea surgery to save his life, adding that he couldn’t wait to get back to the D & D Foods family.
“I love coming here,” said Cinchetti. “I love Mama Ada, she’s a great woman. I couldn’t stay away from this food any longer.”
Over 60 plus years in Chicago Heights, going to D & D Foods is like a high school reunion all over again, only with better food.
Typically Ada “Mama” Damiani greets customers and asks how the family is doing as they move from one aisle to another filled with pastas, coffees and cappuccino cups. A clothesline hangs above various sauces announcing their prices and creating an old country vibe.
Showing that tradition and loyalty are what keep the neighborhood store going, sausage maker Guido Damiani pointed to one of many family photos hanging on the wall.
“My uncle who was a Franciscan priest was on his deathbed in the monastery,” Guido said. “This picture was above his bed. My Aunt was with us and asked if we could take something back to America to remember him by. My uncle pointed to the picture and said ‘Promise me that whenever family comes in your store, you show them this picture to show them where they came from.’
Guido said he kept his promise by doing more than just displaying the photo in the store. See, this sausage maker is a singer, and a copy of that family picture, taken in Ripatransone, Italy in 1910, became the cover of his second CD entitled “Old Vineyards.”
Guido returned to the back of the store. Behind the meat case he makes what customers call "Guido’s sausage," turning the ground pork and spices by hand.
“My grandfather came to Chicago Heights in 1912,” Guido said. “My father wanted to keep his fathers dream alive by having a farm in Italy and a business here. He had to let one go. He decided it would be the farm in Italy. That’s part of our family history. Tradition is what I’ve gotten used to. This is my life. I don’t waste time thinking what else I could be doing, so I write songs. It’s my release.”
The sausage maker is about to release his fourth CD, entitled “Lincoln & Dixie.” He wrote all the songs, and said the title is related to the history of the Heights.
“It’s about how the town used to be,” Guido said. “In this area you could buy anything you wanted. There was work. You could quit one job in the morning and find another one after lunch. That’s in the song.”
As lunch hour approached, D & D Foods began filling up with customers, every one of them Guido and Ada called out by name. Family stories were shared while Guido and his sister Mary Ann weigh and price sausage. Ada stopped and told another story.
“One woman came in and told me she’ll never forget my husband,” said Ada. “As a young girl she saved up her money. The store was selling dolls for a promotion . . . When it came down to tax, she didn’t have enough to pay for it. She said she was brokenhearted. She told me ‘Your husband gave me that doll.’”
The woman in Ada’s story wasn’t around to back it up, but another patron had plenty of positive things to say about D & D.
“Everybody likes Italian food,” long-time customer Don Cull said. “I’ve never seen such a selection in all my life. I’m Irish but converting to be Italian.”
As Guido packed meats, cheeses and tamarindo syrup for Dominic Cinchetti he broke into song “Oh Marie.” Cinchetti then took a deep breath and joined the sausage maker in perfect harmony and in Italian. Guido looked up and said, “I consider all my customers celebrities.”
To hear Guido Damiani sing, listen to the stories of Ada Damiani or try the family’s famous Amasenese sausage, visit them at 1023 Halsted in Chicago Heights.
mary Jane taylor
4:24 pm on Monday, January 10, 2011
Yes, I love his music. All his songs tell stories. That is what I love about them. My Kids even love his songs.
Charlotte Boemker
8:48 am on Tuesday, January 11, 2011
We have his cd's in our car and listen to them when we are driving!! Yes they are fun and uplifting!! Charlotte Verona KY
Kelly Stuckenschneider
10:10 am on Tuesday, January 11, 2011
We love Guido’s music. We maybe German, but claim ourselves as honorary Italians whenever around the Damiani family. The Stuck........der's Union KY
Mia Alva
12:27 pm on Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Guido's music is so melodic and tells such a heartfelt story, we love to listen and sing along!
Mary Cameli
8:44 pm on Tuesday, January 11, 2011
We have Guido's CD's and love playing his music...My kids have his songs downloaded on their iPods so they can run to his music. He is not only a great singer but he is a very caring and kind person who happens to be an extremely hard worker and makes the best Italian sausage around!!
Mary Brzinski
6:38 am on Wednesday, January 12, 2011
I love Guido's music, it is very deep and thought provoking and has many levels of meaning. I believe he is a modern day prophet and has something important to say through his lyrics. Many of his songs have scriptural roots. I have also downloaded his music on my ipod so I can walk (not run) with Guido daily. Now about the sausage and cheeses... I have to travel there several times a year to bring home what I can't find around my own neck of the woods. It is delicious. Mary Brzinski, Union, KY.
Maria Wonder
7:02 am on Wednesday, January 12, 2011
If you haven't heard Guido sing, you're missing out on talent that hasn't been nationally discovered...yet! His songs can fill your eyes with tears in one lyric and then fill your heart with joy in the next lyric. He has a knack of putting words into song, that most people feel, but have a hard time expressing. It wouldn't be a trip to Chicago without a stop into D&D! The food, the music, and the people there make it so inviting that it's hard to leave..Maria Wonder, Reading Pennsylvania
Christin iacovelli
10:29 am on Wednesday, January 12, 2011
My family travels to Chicago heights every year and D&D's is always our first and last stop!!! You feel like your part of the Damiani family the minute you walk in the door. The experiance takes you back to a time where texting and cell phones aren't neeeded. As far as the Melodic sounds of Guido go..... Let's just say there's nothing like driving back to Philly eating a "Giudo special" and listening to "Mi Lady"!!!!! .....Christin Iacovelli Philadelphia, Pa
Rosanne Michelini
6:57 pm on Wednesday, January 12, 2011
We love D & D and all the history that it offers. The food, the family, Guido's music - it is all what it means to be Italian. To many more years!
Justina Damiani
8:38 pm on Wednesday, January 12, 2011
I read all of the above comments, and I must say I agree with all of them. I have been listening to Uncle Guido's music all of my life! It was fun back when I was 7 dancing to his music live and it's even better to have them everywhere I go (I can also understand the meaning of the songs now)! I am proud to say he is my uncle. Also, I want to send a shout out to Grandma! She is the best woman in the whole world...love you so much! Thanks for cutting my pancakes for me when I was little and making such great food now-making sure no one wastes away :)
Now on to D&D-which is a lot of Grandma and Uncle Guido-but also a place to call home for the rest of the family and friends. No strangers are ever met at D&D-everyone is welcomed with open arms and I am grateful to be part of such a legacy! The sausage is the best around, and if you ever need a 6-foot sub- forget about the other sub venues- D&D's subs will be the hit of your next party!
Pam Doremus
8:48 pm on Wednesday, January 12, 2011
My kids love the sandwiches so much, they want me to have more meetings in Chicago. I love the atmosphere and the wonderful people so much, I agree. I'm always on the lookout for a reason to return. Thanks for the music, the wonderful food and the open arms.
Christopher Paicely
6:12 am on Thursday, January 13, 2011
We appreciate all the comments on this story! We hope to highlight many of the most interesting businesses and people in the Heights and Olympia Fields. As always, if you have a story tip or an interesting bit of information email me at christopher.paicely@patch.com. You can also follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/TheHeightsPatch and Facebook at facebook.com/ChicagoHeightsPatch. Thanks again for your interest!
Pete Petrouski
7:53 am on Thursday, January 13, 2011
Yes I've heard Guido sing -- but on the CD's not in person! As a Chicago Heights resident I've been by the store many times. It is a step back in time to a more personal era, a less rushed time; a reminder of the Chicago Heights of the 1950's. The sausage is great, made rght there on the premises. Italian beef too! A great selection of Italian pastas, cheeses,sauces, peppers, etc . As an aside we often feature a deli tray from D&D at events at Union Street Gallery in Chicago Heights.
Lee Malizia
8:31 am on Sunday, January 23, 2011
I haven't heard Guido sing yet, but I have one of Guido's early CD's (somewhere). I want the one he wrote about the early days of Chicago Heights. My father came from the town next door (Acquaviva) and mom in San Benedetto del Tronto, and we also carry the name of Damiani, but unfortunately are not related. I haven't been to D & D's in awhile and need to go back and give Ada a hug and Guido a high five for this terrific article.
We all have so many stories about our families in Italy and Chicago Heights. The sister cities are so intertwined. A book about my father was recently published "An Italian Forever". It came about through a finding of his long ago secret diary which has been translated by a professor in Milan who wrote the book. My Dad was in The Great War and fought in the massacre at Caparetto. He was in the front lines and then a prisioner in the german/austrian concentration camps.
Thank you Guido, Ada, and family for keeping up the wonderful tradition of D & D's. Derno (?) would be so proud of you all. And it means so much to us italian-americans. Ciao,
Lena (Damiani) Malizia
August Fabrizius
12:54 am on Friday, October 28, 2011
Guido Damiani is the 21st Century Lou Monte. He is a great storyteller, historian and has a sharp sense of humor. His CDs are woth hearing, the songs are contagious and entertaining and close to my heart. His mother is amazing and cares about her community and this family's store is a treasured part of my history. Thank you Damianis!
Mary Ann Martello Walledom
12:37 pm on Saturday, November 3, 2012
YES! I have heard Guido's singing. His cd's are a treasure and totally worth every penny. The Damiani's are God's gift to Chicago Heights....I know, I grew up just a hop, skip, and a jump from D & D's front door. Actually from both front doors! The old store on the corner of 12th and Halsted were my first memories of Ada and Derno. My mom would send me to the store with her list and Ada was always there to help with a hug and a smile. You couldn't help but love this precious woman. Then came the new store, boy was our family excited! And to this day just about everyone of my siblings still pop in for Guido's great homemade Italian sausage, the wonderful olives, pastas, and a big hug from Ada as you come in the door. Ahh such wonderful memories.....such wonderful people. We are blessed!
the "new" store......wow, our family was excited.
Robert Napoli
7:28 pm on Thursday, May 2, 2013
Been going to d and ds since I was born. Wonderful people unbeatable foods and unmatched atmosphere. Top notch to say the very least