Italian immigrants played a significant role in shaping Albuquerque’s history along Route 66. Led by Oreste Bocchetti and the Franchini family, they established businesses and a community that thrived in the area.
Early Beginnings
The first Italian immigrant, Oreste Bocchetti, arrived in 1885 and sponsored many others from the same area in Tuscany near Lucca. Lynne Franchini Peckinpaugh, a descendant of the Franchini family, shared that her family played a significant role in establishing the Italian presence in Albuquerque.
The Franchini family soon established a business that became a cornerstone of the community. In 1910, Ovidio Franchini and his brother Ettore started Franchini Brothers Grocery, which sold groceries, deli items, and Italian specialties, introducing Italian food and traditions to Albuquerque.
Past and Present
For Peckinpaugh, the memories of her family’s store remain vivid. She is now focused on preserving her family’s history and sharing their story with others. The Franchini Brothers Grocery and Deli closed in 1980, but its legacy lives on as a testament to the Italian immigrants who helped shape Albuquerque’s history along Route 66.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
