Louis Nese, 95; His Old World Grocery Sold Italian, Deli Foods

Louis Nese, who owned and operated one of Los Angeles’ oldest independent grocery and specialty stores for more than half a century, has died. He was 95.

Nese died April 20 in Los Angeles of natural causes.

In 1940, the son of Italian immigrants became a partner at what was then Galco’s Imported Grocery, when it was at Castellar and Ord Streets in Chinatown.

He bought the store three years later, and in 1955 moved it to its present location at 5702 York Blvd. in Highland Park.

Galco’s was founded in 1897 by two men Nese always referred to as Mr. Galioto and Mr. Cortopassi.

Today it is operated by Nese’s son, John, as Galco’s Soda Pop Stop; it specializes in hard-to-find sodas.

But Louis Nese, like his predecessors, operated the store according to his Italian heritage, offering imported Italian groceries and deli foods.

In 1970, he and his wife, Rose Marie, renamed the shop Galco’s Old World Grocery. “That’s what we were,” Nese told The Times in 2003, referring to the “Old World” tag.

Born in Chavez Ravine many decades before the Dodgers moved in, Nese and his future wife were next-door neighbors. They married in 1933, and celebrated their 70th anniversary in January 2003 working in the family store.

While his wife made Italian deli sandwiches and salads, Nese tended to customers -- selling his special olive oil, tomatoes and other staples of the Italian table. She died in May 2003.

In addition to his son John, Nese is survived by three other sons: Louis, Mike and Frank; a brother, Peter; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.