Blurt: Seven Days Staff Blog

NOTE: Blurt has been retired and is no longer updated regularly. For new content, follow these links:

OFF MESSAGE: Vermont News and Politics
BITE CLUB: Food and Drink Blog
ARTS AND MOVIES NEWS: Updated at sevendaysvt.com

« Alice Eats: Jackson's on the River | Main | Combo Platter: The Monday Food-News Round-up »

July 05, 2010

Two Area Food Pioneers Pass Away

Two veterans of the Vermont food industry both passed away on Friday, July 2: Anthony Joseph Merola and George L. Solomon.

As a youth, George Solomon worked at his father's company, Solomon's Wholesale Beef. He and his wife took over in 1970, and founded a coffin company some 10 years later. In 2003, Seven Days associate editor Ruth Horowitz accompanied Solomon on a coffin-and-culinary trip to Montrèal.

Read George L. Solomon's obituary.

Merola and his wife, Dorothy, used to own Dot's Market on Archibald Street in the Old North End and Merola's Market, which originally opened as the M&M Market on Pearl Street in the Radio Deli spot. Under different ownership, it is now located in the New North End.

Read Anthony Joseph Merola's obituary.

Their passing marks the end of an era.

Thank you for noting Mr. Merola's passing. My father (Jerry Weinberg of Five Spice) lived upstairs from M&M's for many years. The Merolas were kind, wonderful neighbors, and had a great - if tiny - place to get pasta and pesto and delicious meatballs right there in what used to be B'ton's "Little Italy."

George Solomon used to be our source for hamburger at Carbur's restaurant in the 1970's. He was a real character who was incredibly proud of his family and a great source of local lore. Burlington is slowly losing it's old memories. In honor of George, let's all try to keep in touch with each other. Here's to us and who's like us. Damn few and they're all dead.

The comments to this entry are closed.

Stuck in VT (VIDEOS)

Solid State (Music)

Mistress Maeve (Sex)

All Rights Reserved © Da Capo Publishing Inc. 1995-2012 | PO Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402-1164 | 802-864-5684