Madeleine & Vincent DePhilippis Historical Marker

The Madeleine and Vincent DePhilippis Historical Marker is part of a collection of historical markers located in the Little Italy neighborhood of San Diego honoring members of the Italian-American community. Vincent and Madeline both arrived in the U.S. seeking a new life. After meeting in 1922, they fell in love and married in 1925, living in the Bronx, New York, as well as West Chester, Pennsylvania. Both enjoyed cooking for friends and family, and when they relocated to San Diego in 1948, they decided to open Cash & Carry Italian Foods. This eventually became Filippi's Pizza Grotto, a popular Italian-American restaurant in San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood, and also now a chain restaurant with fourteen locations throughout California. The DePhilippis' seven children helped to carry on the family business, a tradition that further continues through Madeleine and Vincent DePhilippis' grand children and great-grand children. The historical marker placed at the site in 2011 is part of a collection of historical markers in San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood titled "Little Italy Legends."

Born in New York, Vincent DePhilippis was raised in Naples, Italy, while his wife Madeleine was born and raised in Nimes, France. After both arrived in the U.S. seeking a new life, they met in 1922, fell in love, and married in 1925. Vincent and Madeleine both enjoyed cooking for friends and family while living in the Bronx in New York City, and then West Chester, Pennsylvania, and later in San Diego after the DePhilippis moved to the West Coast.

Vincent DePhilippis was a pasta maker and chef, as well as an entrepreneur. When Vincent and Madeleine both decided to relocate to San Diego in 1948, they opened Cash & Carry Italian Foods. This shop became a neighborhood staple for the Italian-American community in San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood. Eventually, the shop evolved to became Filippi's Pizza Grotto, a restaurant that became popular within the Italian-America community in San Diego and beyond. The restaurant is now a chain, with fourteen different locations available in California.

The DePhilippis' seven children have each had a hand in carrying on the family's culinary business. In addition, the tradition that was started by Madeleine and Vincent DePhilippi continues on through their grand children and great-grand children today. A historical marker honoring the DePhilippis' contribution to San Diego's Italian-American community was placed at the site on November 1, 2011 by their descendants. The marker is part of a collection called "Little Italy Legends."

Boose, Denise. Madeleine & Vincent De Philippi Historical Marker: Little Italy Legends, Historical Marker Database. October 29th 2017. Accessed September 12th 2021. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=109345.

History, Filippi's Pizza Grotto. Accessed September 12th 2021. https://realcheesepizza.com/history.

Woo, Candace . A Lifetime in Little Italy; Behind the Line at Filippis Pizza , Eater San Diego. March 18th 2014. Accessed September 12th 2021. https://sandiego.eater.com/2014/3/18/6260637/a-lifetime-in-little-italy-behind-the-line-at-filippis-pizza.