Palermo's Cafe & Bakery, Ridgefield Park

When Palermo's Cafe & Bakery was first opened by Giovanna and Gennaro Bruno, better known as Joanne and Jerry, it was just a small store offering traditional Italian desserts and baked goods. Soon, the bakery started catering cakes to local restaurants. Jerry himself took the role of head baker and decorator, as he had experience in the profession since the age of fourteen. Over the years, what started as a small bakery has become a retail business run by first- and second-generation Brunos. Palermo's Cafe & Bakery now offers custom wedding and special-event cakes, traditional Italian desserts, pastries, brick-oven pizzas, paninis, as well as wines and domestic beers.