A busy, popular location at Jamestown’s extreme west side has grown in 82 years from a little family owned store to an expanding, thriving business.

The site is Brigiotta’s Farmland Produce & Garden Center Inc. at 414 Fairmount Ave. where the city meets West Ellicott.

It had its origins in 1924 when Anthony Brigiotta bought a farm at 231 Jones & Gifford Ave. in Jamestown where he grew vegetables commercially, concentrating on celery and lettuce in the fertile peat humis (muck soil) for shipping to Cleveland, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and large local outlets.

Brigiotta was assisted in the farm’s operations by his daughter, Fran, who with her husband, Tom, are present owners of the business.

Fran recalled spending her summers peeling onions, noting, “Every operation was family run.”
Mrs. Galbato said the farm remained very productive on a smaller scale, with potting soil added to its product line.

The layout included an open air fruit and vegetable market, with the property sold briefly by Brigiotta to his nephew, Timothy. The short-time owner sold the location to the Galbatos as present owners and who this year grew squash, radishes and beans at the location for sale at their store.

The original store operation was begun in 1924 by Toni and Josephine Brigiotta at 41 Derby St. in Jamestown. The business was sold in 1944 and the street no longer exists on the map.

“Then, we moved up to Third Street, next to my Brother’s Corkscrew Liquor,” said Mrs. Galbato, noting the store at the time was owned by her brother, Tom, and whe worked for him.

We were there a number of years and moved to Brooklyn Square in 1950,” she related.

Tom Galbato recalled the importance of assistance from within the family. “If we hadn’t had our three children to help us,” he said, “we wouldn’t have grown to where we are today. In those days, you had a strong family unity.”

Tom and Fran took over the Brooklyn Square store shortly after they were married January 22, 1955. “Two weeks later, we started our business,” he said. “ we were there until April 1973 when urban renewal came in,” his wife said, noting they then went looking for a new location and ended up going back to the existing building on the Jones & Gifford farm and which had been the old wash house.

There the Galbatos operated an open air market, adding flowers and bedding plants to their offerings.
Meanwhile, the Galbatos continued to look for a permanent store site. “Then this became available,” Tom said of the present location, explaining it was a former service station, with the deal handled entirely over the telephone.

The Galbatos acquired it in September 1975 and have been there since.

They remodeled the former service station, added on to it and constructed a large greenhouse.

Galbato said the rear building of the property has been added onto four times.

“Everything that evolved from the little store has grown to big store and deli, a huge garden center concept, and wholesale produce business,” he said, with Fran adding, “We’ve expanded all the way around.”

Galbato said the retail end of the business incorporates the deli, selected grocery items, produce and the greenhouse, including flowers and bedding plants along with Christmas wreaths and trees.

The business employs over 150 people during the greenhouse season, building up the numbers slowly from when it was run by the two owners and part-time employees.

The produce warehouse now operates on three shifts 24 hours a day, closing only Christmas.

“We began with one broken-down old truck for local deliveries and now we regularly go to Binghamton, Rochester, Niagara Falls, Erie and Olean. We distribute a lot. The Greenhouses located at 375 E. Livingston Ave. has seen tremendous growth. This seasonal location open from May to October now features 12 greenhouses with more expansion in the works, making it, truly the premier garden center in the area!

In December 2005 a new expansion is a year-round full service florist shop, Francesca’s Floral Design, located “In the Heart of Brigiotta’s Greenhouses” at 375 E. Livingston Ave. in Jamestown. Our experienced, professional designers are on hand for all your floral needs from weddings to funerals, using fresh, silk, and dried arrangements. Daily local delivery available plus members of FTD and Teleflora for all your out of town needs.

The third generation is currently running the business. Sons Thomas, Director of Perishables, Timothy, Director of Operations, his wife Kathryn, Director of Finance/HR, and daughter, Carla Kayes, Director of Retail Sales.
A quick tour of the premises in route out disclosed a bustling operation, with lift vehicles going in several directions to handle incoming and outgoing produce that includes a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Brigiotta’s has become a great addition to the Jamestown economy.