New York has another addition to the growing list of grocery stores closing across the U.S. in 2026. Gentile’s Fine Foods closed October 22 after serving generations of Upper East Side shoppers for 99 years.
The family-run specialty market at 1118 Madison Avenue sold produce, prepared foods and groceries with a level of personal service that became increasingly rare. A notice posted in the window said the decision followed the unexpected death of longtime owner Anthony “Tony” Gentile.
A four-generation market closes
The Gentile family traced the store’s Madison Avenue history to 1927. Founded by an immigrant from Salerno, Italy, the business moved to different storefronts along the avenue over the decades before operating between East 83rd and East 84th streets…