After losing his eldest son to World War I, Rocco decided to send his second son, 17-year-old Annibale, to the safety of America. Annibale soon became homesick for his family and the foods of the family gastronomia, so in 1919 he opened an Italian specialty food store in San Jose.

In the 1920s, joined by sister Enrica, he moved the business to the Elmwood district of Berkeley, across the street from A.G. Ferrari's present site.

After serving in World War II, Annibale's son Harold Ferrari returned to the family business, along with brother-in-law Vince Cerletti and cousin Leo Giacomini.

In 1948, Harold, Vince and Leo purchased the Ultra Delicatessen on Telegraph Avenue, which was for many years our ravioli and pasta-making facility. In 1953, they bought Balbi's Lucca Delicatessen on 96th and East 14th in Oakland, and then, years later, another in Castro Valley.

In 1984, the third generation took the helm, with cousins Paul Ferrari and Larry Cerletti combining the Ultra and Lucca names, selling the San Leandro and Castro Valley stores, and opening new stores in Montclair, on Piedmont Avenue, the Elmwood and Corte Madera.

A.G. Ferrari continues to expand under Paul's watchful eye. In 1998, A.G. Ferrari opened stores on Solano Avenue in Berkeley, in Lafayette, and a third in San Francisco's Castro district. The following year, stores were opened in Los Altos and San Francisco's Laurel Village. Most recently, Paul opened stores in Palo Alto, Sunnyvale and San Francisco's Financial District.

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