Spring has sprung, which means it’s time for many Western New Yorkers to fire up their grills and invite their friends and family over.
At 410 Connecticut St., on the West Side of Buffalo, lies the home-base for a western New York cookout tradition.
Mineo & Sapio Italian sausage manufacturers have been in business since 1920 and have been a major supplier of specialty meats in the area for many years.
Dan Cartwright, manager of the current neighborhood market, has been with the company for 30 years. Cartwright said he has been an employee since they were originally located on Massachusetts Street and after they moved to their current location.
“We supply a lot of customers,” Cartwright said.
Cartwright said that he works very closely with the current owner, Michael Pierro, to maintain a good relationship between the meat shop and the West Side.
Every year Pierro and the Mineo & Sapio team donates their efforts to local churches, schools and charities.
This past year, Mineo & Sapio management worked closely with the WKBW-TV Variety Club telethon. Cartwright said that they have also donated to the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K run.
“Every year we do the Jell-o splash,” Cartwright said, “We donated a lot to the telethon.”
According to the Mineo & Sapio Web site (http://www.mineosapio.com/index.html), the meat market was founded by John Mineo who quickly earned a reputation for making “fine fresh Italian sausage.” After joining forces in 1952 with Mineo’s son-in-law, Ralph Sapio, the meat market became known as Mineo & Sapio sausage manufacturers, the Web site said.
“Today we are known as Mineo & Sapio Italian sausage, and we are still in tune with the needs of our customers,” the web site reads. “We offer many varieties of products available fresh, or pre-cooked for those customers requiring the convenience of a time-saving product.”
Today, Mineo & Sapio Italian sausage manufacturers sell products including Italian meatballs, sausage patties, chicken sausage and their most famous, classic Italian pork sausage, Cartwright said.
Other menu items include Italian sausage with green peppers and onions, Italian sausage with dandelions, chorizo sausage links, chicken sausage with spinach and feta and chicken sausage with sun dried tomatoes and basil.
“We sell to suppliers in Rochester and the southern tier,” Cartwright said.
Besides selling their products at their meat market, Mineo & Sapio sell a lot of their products at outside distributors, located mainly in Western New York.
Some of the local distributors include all Buffalo located Wegmans, Tops Friendly Markets, Dash’s Market and local Budwey Markets.
Another service Mineo & Sapio provides to its customers is cross-country shipping of their products for any folks out of the area craving a taste of home.
“Mineo & Sapio are my family’s favorite,” said Lou Camaratta, resident of the West Side of Buffalo. “We’ve tried other brands but they’re by far the best.”
Located a couple blocks from the Connecticut Street Armory, in the heart of the west side of Buffalo, you will find a locally owned and operated business that gives back to its community and provides a cookout staple for all to enjoy.