Bloomfield Little Italy Days started on Thursday, bringing more than 100,000 people to the Pittsburgh neighborhood and giving local businesses a boost.Kerim Yilmaz, who owns Geppetto Café, spoke to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 about the impact of the festivities. “First of all, it brings a lot of food traffic, a lot of people, which helps us advertise our business,” Yilmaz said. Sal Richetti, the event producer of Bloomfield Little Italy Days, said, “For Bloomfield businesses, this is Christmas for them. They love this festival, they make a lot of money from this, the Bloomfield businesses, they pay their taxes from this. It helps with their inventory, it helps with their labor.”Richetti said Little Italy Days has a kids zone, live music, and 200 vendors.One vendor, Tambellini Event Catering, has been a staple for 23 years.They usually go through 500 pounds of sausage and meatballs, as well as pasta shells, in just days.A popular attraction is the celebrity bocce tournament.The male-dominated sport is growing in popularity with young women.Richetti said Steelers football legend Franco Harris was their bocce team captain.He has died, but his legacy lives on during Bloomfield Little Italy Days.The festival ends on Sunday.Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel
Bloomfield Little Italy Days started on Thursday, bringing more than 100,000 people to the Pittsburgh neighborhood and giving local businesses a boost.
Kerim Yilmaz, who owns Geppetto Café, spoke to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 about the impact of the festivities.
“First of all, it brings a lot of food traffic, a lot of people, which helps us advertise our business,” Yilmaz said.
Sal Richetti, the event producer of Bloomfield Little Italy Days, said, “For Bloomfield businesses, this is Christmas for them. They love this festival, they make a lot of money from this, the Bloomfield businesses, they pay their taxes from this. It helps with their inventory, it helps with their labor.”
Richetti said Little Italy Days has a kids zone, live music, and 200 vendors.
One vendor, Tambellini Event Catering, has been a staple for 23 years.
They usually go through 500 pounds of sausage and meatballs, as well as pasta shells, in just days.
A popular attraction is the celebrity bocce tournament.
The male-dominated sport is growing in popularity with young women.
Richetti said Steelers football legend Franco Harris was their bocce team captain.
He has died, but his legacy lives on during Bloomfield Little Italy Days.
The festival ends on Sunday.
Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel