Circo's Pastry Shop – Dolceria & Bakery – Knickerbocker Avenue – Bushwick, Brooklyn

24 Comments

1. sorrentolens says:

   April 12, 2008 at 9:40 pm

   I love these photos of the Italian pastry shop. Think of all the Italian weddings that they provided cakes for.. cookies at Christmas and Easter, and all the cannoli!!! OOOOOWEEEEE the cannoli !! Makes me want to buy a plane ticket and come up to NY to eat.

2. fadingad says:

   April 13, 2008 at 7:02 pm

   Hey Paisano! Why aren’t I suprised! 🙂

3. Anne says:

   May 21, 2008 at 3:10 pm

   No one can imitate these old Italian Bakers–though many try! Anyone remember their Cremolata—oh man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4. fadingad says:

   May 23, 2008 at 1:03 am

   Anne- It’s businesses like these that give Brooklyn its character and history. Unfortunately, I have a tendency to photograph things that are evanescent. I’m hoping Circo doesn’t evanesce before our eyes like all other treasures here. Don’t remember the Cremolata. Was that a drink?

5. Joanne says:

   May 24, 2008 at 4:09 am

   Fadingad, I love these pictures! Do you remember Knickerbocker Avenue in the 70s? There were more authentic Italian stores there back then, such as Rosemaria Bakery, The Colleseo, Bianco Sulumeria, and more.

6. Frank says:

   July 3, 2008 at 7:08 pm

   Cremolata is the flavor of an Italian ice. The only other place that I can recall that still has that flavor is Mama’s, a small place on Rockaway Blvd in Richmond Hill, a block away from John Adams H.S.. Cremolata is more like a Spumoni than an ice.

7. fadingad says:

   July 4, 2008 at 7:32 am

   I remember MAMAs! I went to Adams. Graduated 1977.

8. Steven Green says:

   September 18, 2008 at 9:35 pm

   Just ate my first piece of vanilla/chocolate cake from them. Wow! Whipped cream icing and more cream than cake. Soooo good.

9. Mrs. D. says:

   November 17, 2008 at 9:23 pm

   I can’t believe that no one has mentioned the GIANT CANOLI!!

10. fadingad says:

    November 17, 2008 at 10:27 pm

    Filled with the smaller canolis!

11. fadingad says:

    November 17, 2008 at 10:28 pm

    My favorite are the sfogliatelli.

12. Carol Marano says:

    March 5, 2009 at 7:40 pm

    My Memories are Sweeter than Circo’s Pastries.
    GOD BLESS BUSHWICK, BROOKLYN AND ALL THOSE WHO EVER LIVED HERE!

13. mjvblue8596 says:

    March 6, 2009 at 1:19 am

    My Grandfather co-owns the bakery. Well, he used to. His partner, who is now a family friend, still lets us in the back to see how everything is made. I remember when I was, like 7 going in the back to make cakes out of nothing but the jell and whipped-cream. Or I would crack eggs in the back for the real cakes. I love Circo’s and still goes.

14. Laura DiMarco says:

    May 23, 2009 at 4:44 am

    I remember Circo’s Bakery Well ….I Grew up on Suydam St and Cypress Ave and spent almost everyday on Knickerbocker Ave. My Aunt owned the Madame Milano corset shop .. My Uncle worked for restivo Brothers bakery. My Grandfather owned Stella D’oro bakery on Dekalb ave and knickerbocker Ave in 1922. Then it moved to Bleeker St and Central Ave .. In 1969 I moved to Long Island and the Bakery moved to Deer Park Long Island the next year. I moved back to Bushwick in 1975 to 1977 I lived on Suydam St and Knickerbocker Ave….My kids and I would get a lemon ice at Circo’s Bakery everyday in the Summer … Great memories !!!

15. Carmela Camiola Altieri says:

    July 1, 2009 at 4:48 pm

    I remember Circo’s from the 1950’s. I was a young girl and walked the full length of Knickerbocker Avenue to Woolworth and the Hamburg Bank on Myrtle Avenue. My mother always bought the most delicious cream cakes for my birthday at Circo’s. And their cannoli and napoleons were magnificent. Ah, the good old days! I lived on Starr St. across from Bushwick Park and so did all my relatives.

16. marylee says:

    August 28, 2009 at 4:55 am

    Circo’s is the best thing since “sliced bread”
    I lived my whole life in Brooklyn and Knickerbocker Ave was such a prominent part of my life. From the birthday cakes always from Circo’s, to the Sunday pastries (by the way my wedding was one of those “Italian Weddings” whose cake came from Circo), to the italian record shops to the street festivals. It was the best place to grow up Italian in America!!!!
    I hope Circo lasts forever. I live in California now, but no trip to NY is complete without a visit to Circo’s.

17. Michael says:

    December 25, 2009 at 1:16 am

    My Nonno (grandpa) used to own this bakery with his good friend Nino, who still owns it today. He retired 4 years ago, but we still go to get free stuff. My Nonno came up with all the good recipe that he still has in secret notebooks till this day

    1. fadingad says:

       December 25, 2009 at 5:38 am

       Bravo! Grazie di condividere la storia della tua famiglia. Thank you for sharing your family history with us. We still buy our canolis and cookies there! Have a wonderful holiday and healthy new year. Frank and Enzo (and Christelle- visiting us from Genoa).

18. paulette Motta says:

    January 6, 2010 at 5:13 pm

    I was raised on Jefferson St. and lived in the neighborhood until the late 70’s. Of course like every Italian Family, Sundays were of course Circo’s Bakery day as well as Polmero’s Bakery on Central Ave & Troutman St. (right on the corner). Back in the day, on Saturday afternoons the girls walked to Knickerbocker Ave. and the straight off to Myrtle Ave. Ridgewood and walk that whole ave. as well. Girls love to shop – stop at woolworth’s 4 a bananna split with hoping the balloon u choose would only be 1 cent (yes things were actually 1 cents) haha. Great memories living in the Bushwick section then (not sure about now, even thou I hear it’s on a rise of coming back). Would love 2 c or hear from anyone who lived in the old neighborhood. paulette@cffr.net

19. gatita says:

    January 21, 2010 at 3:49 pm

    Hola yo siempre he comprado mis biscochos en esta bakery por cierto son muy ricos y buenos que mi mama ha comprado mis biscocho desde que yo era pequena ahora que soy grande yo compro mis biscochos ahi incluso le he comprado un biscochos a mi mama y a mi esposo compre biscochos en esta bakery que son deliciosos y buenos que la pasen bien.

20. Aileen Garoutte' says:

    February 23, 2010 at 12:07 am

    I just received a box of Pignoli cookies from a friend in New York. When I visited there many years ago I remember those cookies and asked if he would get me some. I was so happy to receive a box today. Brought back all the good memories of my visit to NY. He lives close to there in Brighton Beach area. I live in Cortez, Colorado now.

21. Maddy says:

    May 14, 2010 at 4:51 pm

    This is the only Bakery I buy my kids birthday cakes from. Yummy!! Love you!

22. Brittany says:

    March 25, 2011 at 5:46 pm

    They deliver all over now!! Everyone should send some cannollis to their loved ones no matter where they are!

    1. fadingad says:

       March 25, 2011 at 8:18 pm

       That’s good to know!