Luigis Deli & Restaurant

Luigi's and Lemucchi's Grocery has been at its present location since 1910 and is one of Bakersfield's oldest continuous family operated businesses. Joe Lemucchi, the founder of the business, came to California from Lucca, Italy and started his original cafe on Sumner Street in 1906. Lemucchi married Emilia Degiuli, also an Italian immigrant, and the couple moved in 1911 to the present location of the business at 725 East 19th Street. The original store had family quarters in the rear where the couple's four children, Louis, Lena, Harry and Helen, were born. The early business featured a grocery, a cafe, a bakery and a gasoline station. 19th Street was the main thoroughfare between Bakersfield, and the then town of Sumner. The street car line from Bakersfield extended east on 19th Street and terminated at Baker Street. East 19th Street also ended at the Lemucchi Store, merging into Edison Highway which became the main highway exiting and entering Bakersfield on the east side. Joe Lemucchi catered to the many Italian immigrant families who came to Kern County in the early 1900's. Some lived in the immediate neighborhood only.