Stockton

Italian Americans have a long and rich history in Stockton, California. From the immigrants who first arrived in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to the fourth-generation Italian-Americans running the family businesses today, Italian-Americans have played an integral role in the development of the city. From businesses like Domenico Ghirardelli’s chocolate shop, Stanislaus Food Products, The Fruit Bowl, and the Lagorio Family of Companies to clubs and organizations like the Italian Gardner’s Society, the Italian Athletic Club, the Waterloo Gun & Bocce Club, and the Pacific Italian Alliance, Stockton’s Italian-American presence is still strong. Today’s Italian-American Stocktonians can enjoy classic Italian cuisine at restaurants like the Centrale Kitchen & Bar, Garlic Brothers Restaurant & Bar, and Prima Ristorante, while the Italian Center provides a place for Italian-American culture, language and heritage to be celebrated.