A. Litteri Inc. 100th Anniversary Recognition Resolution of 2026

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Councilmember Wendell Felder Councilmember Brooke Pinto 2
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Councilmember Trayon White Councilmember Zachary Parker 7
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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 12
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 16
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To recognize and honor A. Litteri Inc. on its 100th anniversary of providing quality food, drink 20
and flavors of Italy to District residents. 21
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WHEREAS, A. Litteri Inc. was opened in 1926 by Antonio Litteri, a World War One 23
veteran, who immigrated to the United States from Sicily in the early 1900s and was joined in 24
1932 by his brother in-law Mariano DeFrancisci, a native of Valguarnera, Sicily, and later by his 25
nephew Tommy DeFrancisci; 26
WHEREAS, A. Litteri Inc. was originally opened in what is now Ward 2 at 6th and G 27
Streets NW and in 1931 moved to 5th and K Street NE before settling at the current location in 28
Ward 5, 517 Morse Street, NE in 1932; 29

WHEREAS, A. Litteri Inc. is the oldest remaining business of Union Market’s 30
wholesaler district which has provided authentic, high-quality, Italian products to residents 31
across the city since it first opened in 19311; 32
WHEREAS, the business has been repeatedly recognized as a local favorite by outlets 33
like the Washingtonian and has received awards including Winner of the 2017 Leccio d'Oro 34
Award for Best Wine Shop from the Consorzio del vino Brunello di Montalcino; and 35
WHEREAS, Antonio’s nephew, Christopher Litteri DeFrancisci, ran A. Litteri from the 36
1960s until the 1980s, when his sons, Chris and Mike DeFrancisci, took over the family 37
business; 38
WHEREAS, Mike DeFrancisci, grandson of Mariano DeFrancisci, passed the business to 39
its current owner Max Evans in 2020, continuing the 100 year legacy of providing exceptional 40
products and service as a neighborhood staple beloved by residents and visitors alike; 41
WHEREAS, A. Litteri gives Italian Americans a place to connect with their heritage and 42
one another; 43
WHEREAS, some customers have been coming to A. Litteri for 80 years and still 44
remember first coming to the store with their grandparents; 45
WHEREAS, A. Litteri is often packed with patrons and filled with a lively, communal 46
atmosphere; 47
WHEREAS, A. Litteri brings together people from all walks of life and unites them 48
through their love of Italian food and drink. 49

1 https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/07/27/dc-union-market-wholesalers/

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this 50
resolution may be cited as the “A. Litteri Inc. 100th Anniversary Recognition Resolution of 51
2026”. 52
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and celebrates A Litteri Inc. 53
for its outstanding service to the District of Columbia and commends its lasting contributions to 54
the neighborhood and community it calls home. 55
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in 56
the District of Columbia Register. 57