Beloved Marietta Store On Court Street Now For Rent

Of course, we all knew that Marietta, the beloved old-time clothing store at 393 Court Street, was likely closed for good after its last surviving owner, Joe Chirico,  passed away this past June.  However, seeing a 'for rent sign' attached to the store's vintage enamel sign, makes the closing of this family-owned business a reality and a sad reflection of all the changes here in Carroll Gardens.

Marietta had been in operation at this location since the 1940s. It was originally founded by Marietta Chirico, a gutsy Italian immigrant who saved up her money and bought the Court Street building, so that she could open her dry goods store on the ground floor. Later, her two sons Joe and Matty stepped in to help run the business.

After their mother's passing, the two brothers continued running the store. Surrounded by stacks of cardboard boxes that contained underwear, socks, t-shirts, baby clothes and housecoats, the two brothers Joe and Matty served up their infectious laugh and hilarious banter.

Matty passed away a few years ago, but his older brother Joe who was well into his 90s continued on. Every work day at about 11 am, he would slowly make his way from his home on Clinton Street to take his place behind the counter of his store. Joe's grandson started helping him un the store for the past few years, but  when Joseph's health began to fail at the beginning of this year, Marietta remained closed. Obviously, now that Joe is gone, the next generation of Chiricos has decided to close the shop forever.

Marietta was like a perfectly preserved time capsule and offered a glimpse into what life was like here in Carroll Gardens when everyone still knew each other and when Court Street was lined with family-owned businesses that actually served local residents.

One can only hope that a new tenant will respect its past and acknowledge Marietta and her two sons, Matty and Joe.

Marietta at 392 Court Street a while back, when it was still open.

This photo was taken by my friend and Carroll Gardener Mary, who kindly allowed me to post it here. It shows Mary's neighbor Marie "hashing it out" with Joe a while back.

Matty and Joe Chirico

image above courtesy of Carroll Gardens Patch

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The End Of An Era In Carroll Gardens: Farewell to Joseph Chirico Of Marietta's

(photo credit: Eric Platt)

Matty and Joe Chirico

image above courtesy of Carroll Gardens Patch

Oh, what truly sad news!  Joseph Chirico of the beloved Marietta at 392 Court Street has passed away. A handwritten note has been posted on the gate of the old fashioned clothing store informing Marietta's Customers of his passing.
A service will be held at Scotto's Funeral Home at First Street and Court Street tomorrow, June 5th.

For a few months now, Marietta has been shuttered.  In January of this year, the store was closed  'for Vacation', but it never re-opened and many in the neighborhood feared that the closing would probably be permanent.

The clothing store has been in operation at this location since the 1940s. It was originally founded by Marietta Chirico, a gutsy Italian immigrant who saved up her money and bought the Court Street building, so that she could open her dry goods store on the ground floor. Later, her two sons Joe and Matty stepped in to help run the business.

Though there never seemed to be any visible order in the store, Joe always knew exactly in which brown cardboard box to look to find what their customers are looking for.
Besides white cotton underwear, Joe and Matty, when he was still alive, served up their infectious laughs and hilarious banter. Walking into their store was a real experience and one can only imagine what Mother Marietta was like.

Matty passed away a few years ago, but his older brother Joe who was well into his 90s continued on. Every work day at about 11 am, he would slowly make his way from his home on Clinton Street to take his place behind the counter of his store. Joe's grandson started helping him run it for the past few years, but since the beginning of the year, Joseph's health was failing and he did not want to leave the house anymore.

Joseph. like his brother Matty, will be very much missed by many in Carroll Gardens.  This is truly the end of an era in the neighborhood.  Such a sad day!

Below are some memories of the store when it was still open.It was such a wonderful time capsule. Please take some time to watch the wonderful video of the Brothers Chirico made a few years back by Abbey Adkinson and you will understand why they were so special and such a big part of the community.

Marietta at 392 Court Street a while back

This photo was taken by my friend and Carroll Gardener Mary, who kindly allowed me to post it here. It shows Mary's neighbor Marie "hashing it out" with Joe a while back.

 Interview with the Chirico Brothers by Abbey Adkinson.

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Is This The End For Marietta On Court Street? Old Fashioned Clothing Store Has Been Closed For A While Now

Carroll Gardens without Marietta, the old time clothing store at 392 Court Street, would simply not be the same neighborhood.  It is a vestige of the neighborhood's Italian heritage, of a simpler time when local residents bought flowered housecoats, flannel underwear, waist high undies and cotton handkerchiefs.
For quite a while now, the store has been shuttered.  In January of this year, a "Closed for Vacation' sign appeared on its front door, but it never re-opened afterwards.
That has many Carroll Gardeners wondering if this time, it may not re-open.
Which would be incredibly sad and a tremendous loss to the neighborhood.

The clothing store has been in operation at this location since the 1940s. It was originally founded by Marietta Chirico, a gutsy Italian immigrant who saved up her money and bought the Court Street building, so that she could open her dry goods store on the ground floor. Later, her two sons Joe and Matty stepped in to help run the business.

Though there never seemed to be any visible order in the store, Joe always knew exactly in which brown cardboard box to look to find what their customers are looking for.
Besides white cotton underwear, Joe and Matty, when he was still alive, served up their infectious laughs and hilarious banter. Walking into their store was a real experience and one can only imagine what Mother Marietta was like.

After Matty passed away a few years ago, his older brother Joe who is now well into his 90s continued on. Every work day at about 11 am, he would slowly make his way from his home on Clinton Street to take his place behind the counter of his store. Joe's grandson started helping him run the store for the past few years, so there was hope that Marietta's would remain open for a while longer

I spoke to several people about the fact that the store had been closed now for weeks. One longtime resident told me that it never really re-opened after the 'on vacation' sign went up in January. Someone else told me that Joe was now in a wheelchair and was not coming out of his house any more. There are rumors that the storefront has been rented to someone else, but I was not able to confirm this.

Whatever the reason, it is terribly sad to imagine that Marietta may not re-open.
Let us hope that this is not the end for this neighborhood institution.

Marietta at 392 Court Street when it was open

Matty and Joe Chirico when both brothers still ran the store

(image above courtesy of Carroll Gardens Patch)

Here is a beautiful video of the Chirico brothers in their store. It was filmed by Abbey Adkinson.

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Picture Of The Day: Marietta On Vacation

I don't know about you, but every time I see Marietta's roll-down gate closed with a notice taped to it, I get nervous. After all, this mom-and-pop shop has been a fixture on Court Street since 1940  in Carroll Gardens and the neighborhood just would not be the same without it.
What relief when I read the note attached on the gate this time around. Turns out,  Joe Chirico, the wonderful 90+ year old owner is taking a vacation.  Let us hope Joe re-opens his wonderful old-fashioned neighborhood store on the 19th and is enjoying some well deserved time off.

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Here Is Hoping That Marietta Dry Goods Store On Court Street Re-Opens Soon

Marietta at 392 Court Street a while back

I walked past Marietta's at 392 Court Street a few times in the past week and was surprised to find the gate closed when the store should have been open. Just a few days ago, a notice was taped to its front gate announcing that the closing was "due to illness" and that the old-school Carroll Gardens clothing store would re-open soon.
Let us hope, because Carroll Gardens without Marietta's, well, it just wouldn't be the same.   It is a true neighborhood gem and a time capsule of Carroll Gardens' past
The clothing store has been in operation at this location since the 1940s. It was originally opened by Marietta Chirico, a gutsy Italian immigrant who saved up her money and bought the Court Street building, so that she could open her dry goods store on the ground floor.  Later, her two sons stepped in to help run the business.
To this day, brothers Joe (93) and Matty (85) Chirico still busy themselves behind the counter of their store. The merchandize consists of undergarments, house coats in a variety of small flowered prints, flannel pajamas, sweatshirts and pants, all at impossibly low prices.  Though there doesn't seem to be any visible order in the store, Joe and Matty know exactly in which brown cardboard box to look to find what their customers are looking for.
Besides white cotton underwear, Joe and Matty serve up their infectious laughs and hilarious banter.  These two are real characters and one can only imagine what Mother Marietta was like.

Back in the 1990s,  when my kids attended PS 58, I purchased my children's assembly clothes at Marietta: Red tie and white shirt with blue pants or skirt.
Back then, assembly on the first Thursday of every month and all the kids had to dress the same.  Does anyone remember those days?
Marietta was the only place in the neighborhood that stocked the red ties.

I sincerely hope that Joe and Matty will soon re-open their store.  And if it does, I hope that everyone will go in to buy something, even if it is just a pair if white socks.  Because this is one mom-an-pop store we shouldn't lose here in Carroll Gardens.

Matty and Joe Chirico

image above courtesy of Carroll Gardens Patch

Here is a beautiful video of the Chirico brothers in their store. It was filmed by Abbey Adkinson.

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