Orsi’s Bakery: The Little Italy Institution Omaha Refused to Lose

Since 1919, Orsi’s Italian Bakery & Pizzeria has been part of the story of Omaha’s Little Italy.  Owner Jimmy Hall joins Tony Vacanti Jr. to share the history of one of Omaha’s oldest Italian bakeries, from immigrant bakers and horse-and-buggy bread deliveries to fresh Italian bread, Sicilian-style pizza and generations of neighborhood customers.  Jimmy also tells his own unlikely story. He first started helping around Orsi’s as a child and eventually became the person determined to keep the bakery alive and preserve the traditions he grew up learning.  That determination was tested in 1997 when a devastating fire threatened Orsi’s. The response showed how deeply the bakery was connected to Omaha’s Italian community, as nearby businesses and organizations stepped in to help Orsi’s continue producing and selling bread while the bakery was rebuilt.  The conversation is also a window into what Omaha’s Little Italy once looked like, when bakeries, restaurants, grocery stores and family businesses filled the neighborhood and helped create a food culture that still influences Omaha today.  Italians Who Fed Omaha is a podcast from La Casa Pizzeria dedicated to preserving the stories of the Italian and Sicilian families who helped shape Omaha’s food culture. Hosted by fourth-generation pizzaiolo and La Casa owner-operator Tony Vacanti Jr., the series documents the restaurants, bakeries, recipes, traditions and families that helped make Omaha taste like home.  References: https://orsibakery.com/ https://thereader.com/2019/07/07/a-century-of-orsis/ https://omahaexploration.com/2023/10/08/orsis-italian-bakery/ This podcast is part of Hurrdat ONE, an Omaha-based podcast and digital media network dedicated to telling the stories of our city and the people who make it what it is. Hurrdat ONE brings together local voices, creators, businesses, and communities through original podcasts, video, and social content made for Omaha and by Omaha. Discover more local stories and shows at Hurrdat ONE and subscribe to the Hurrdat ONE YouTube channel.