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The Marchiano Heritage
Baked with Love
At Marchiano’s, every bite starts with fresh, high-quality ingredients. From vibrant vine-ripened tomatoes to crisp peppers, onions, and greens, every vegetable is carefully selected to deliver peak flavor. Their meats are seasoned and sliced in house, and the dough, whether for their famous specialty breads or their iconic tomato pies, is mixed fresh daily. The bakery aroma that fills the shop isn’t just comforting; it’s the smell of bread baked from scratch, pies pulled straight from the oven, and a deep respect for doing things the right way. Every Italian specialty bread, pie, and rotating house-made special is crafted with care, preserving the honest flavor and texture that define the Marchiano’s name.
Taste the Tradition
What began in Nunziata’s kitchen, along with her son Frank & wife, Kathy Marchiano, has now been passed down to the next generation. Their daughters proudly carry the torch in what has always been a female-owned, family-run business rooted in the heart of Philadelphia. Their father’s spirit lives on in every one of their grandmom’s recipes and rituals, from the early morning dough prep to the way they greet regulars by name. The Marchiano sisters have preserved not only the flavors of their father’s Italian heritage but also the sense of pride, resilience, and homegrown hospitality that defines their bakery. Marchiano’s isn’t just a neighborhood staple; it’s a legacy, made with love and run by the hands of family.
A Taste of the Old Country
We are a family bakery that takes great pride in our roots and our products. Our unique beginning has led to unique offerings. Enjoy them and become part of our tradition!
Marchiano’s Bakery of Philadelphia has managed to keep the wholesome and tasty touch of the old country and shares it with anyone who appreciates the value of a product created in a small kitchen by a cook concerned only with quality and tradition.
Frank Marchiano attributed his success to recipes created a generation ago. His mother, Nunziata, a native of a small village in southern Italy called Acri, located in the province of Cosenza, used to bake breads in the basement of her little row house on Umbria Street in the very European neighborhood of Philadelphia known as Manayunk. People walking by found it impossible to resist the fragrance of herbs, spices, tomatoes, and fresh baking bread. Nunziata, along with her son Frank and his wife Kathy, began selling her family’s products to make ends meet and because they were in demand. Little did they know that their simple venture would one day turn into a thriving bakery business that now has two locations to keep up with demand. Frank and Kathy’s children, Christina and Daneen, work in the business. They continue to expand and carry out the legacy of their grandmother Nunziata, who passed away in 1989, and their father Frank, the heart and soul of the business, who passed away in 2024.
Before the first bakery officially opened its doors in 1982, the Marchiano family worked out of the small kitchen in the basement of their home. Dough was mixed 25 pounds at a time by hand. It was so heavy that three people had to take turns kneading. It is still mixed, raised, and rolled the old fashioned way.
Tomato Pie, rolled into long sheets by hand, is covered with crushed tomatoes, olive oil, and spices. After baking, it is dotted with Parmesan cheese. This old world treat is served hot from the oven, cold from the refrigerator, or simply at room temperature. Mama Nunziata always said serving it at room temperature was best because it allowed you to enjoy the true taste and texture of the tomatoes.
Specialty Breads are stuffed with a variety of meats, vegetables, and cheeses. They are perfect as appetizers, late night snacks, or simply as a quick dinner thanks to their ease of preparation. These popular loaves are now a staple in many homes both in the area and across the country.
Oreganata is unique to the Manayunk area of Philadelphia. To our knowledge, it is not sold commercially anywhere else. Thousands in the Philadelphia area enjoy this exclusive bread product, available solely at our retail bakery on Umbria Street. The combination of spices, oils, and fillings accents the carefully rolled bread, creating a product that is truly unparalleled.
The products we serve have become traditional parts of many major events and holidays in the Philly area. Super Bowl Sunday, the World Series, Christmas, and New Year’s parties, to name a few, more often than not center around products from Marchiano’s.