AN AKRON TRADITION SINCE 1918
The DiFeo Name and Chicken Go Hand In Hand
Alfonso DiFeo was born in Fiurnicino Italy in 1889. At the age of 14, Alfonso and his Uncle immigrated to the United States. After arriving in the United States, they ended up in Pennsylvania working in the coal mines. After a decade in the coal mines, Alfonso headed to the booming town of Akron. The Rubber industry was growing and Akron was on the move. Alfonso saw a chance to change his life. He opened his first chicken store in 1918 at 1077 Grant Street in Akron. In those days, the chickens where sold to the store alive and customers took them home to process the chickens themselves. Now that was fresh chicken! As the years passed, Alfonso Jr (Jim’s Dad) served the United States in World War II and after his service came back to Akron to take over the family business.
In the 1950’s, chickens were trucked in from Virginia and unloaded into cages at the store. In those days, the whole family worked in the store: Dad, and his three sons: Jim, Mark and Joe. Jim began working in the store at the age of 6. His job was to slaughter, de-feather and process the chickens, while the customers waited.