As he looks toward retirement, John Viviano III is closing John Viviano & Sons Grocery Co., the third-generation market on The Hill. His family is selling the building. The closing date is April 30.
J. Viviano & Sons opened in 1950 as a small shop where John Viviano Sr. sold cheese and other food products. His son and grandson grew the brick-and-mortar and eventually the online presence into St. Louis’ largest Italian market.
According to a FOX2 report, rising costs and competition in the last several years hit the business hard. “That everyday foot traffic of people coming in because they need that everyday meal or dinner or cold cuts, it just really doesn’t happen anymore,” Viviano said…