Domenico Canale was born in the Italian Riviera community of San Pietro di Rovereto, about 25 miles from Genoa, Italy.  He immigrated to America in 1859 when he was 16 years old, landing in New Orleans after a 65 day ocean voyage.  He immediately boarded the steamboat John Simon for Memphis, where an uncle ran the "A. Vaccero & Co." wholesale liquor and wine business.  Domenico began working for his uncle, Abraham Vaccaro, and saving his money.  Within 5 years he had saved enough to start his own produce distributing business.  The 1865 Memphis Directory shows a listing for "Canale & Brother" operating a "Confectionery" at 21 Adams.  The brother's name was Peter D. Canale.

Domenico was selling sweets, fruits and vegetables from his own push cart, but he continued an interest in the liquor trade.  During 1869 he married Katherine Solari who was born in the same district in Italy as he.  She was the sister of a noted Memphis Italian-American painter, Mary Solari.  Together, they had eight children, five sons and three daughters.  From 1871 to 1875 the Memphis Directories list the business as "Canale and Solari" - the "Solari" was Katherine's borther.  In 1876 the business is listed for the first time as "D. Canale & Co."

Katherine and Dominico

Steamer John Simon

1865  - Canale & Bro

Katherine

Mary Solari

Canale-Solari 1873

Confectioner - 21 Adams

Canale & Solari-1872

Canale & Solari-1872-73

Canale & Solari-1874

D Canale & Co-1876

82 Beale

8 Madison

Although the company sold wholesale vegetables and fruits they also sold a quality bourbon whiskey named "Old Dominic".  And they distributed a number of beers including Pabst Blue Ribbon and Champagne Velvet.  The Old Dominick brand of whiskey quickly gained a local and regional customer base, as it was advertised lavishly with large signs on buildings in downtown Memphis.  The whiskey was sold in stoneware jugs and in glass bottles.  Canale also became quite popular for his giveaways to saloons, including paperweights and shot glasses. 

Old Dominick Whiskey Sign

Toddy Decanter

jug-Bank

Paperweight Dice

Shot Glass

Shot Glass

Shot Glass

The 1905 book "Notable Men of Tennessee" wrote of Domenic Canale, "(He) ...stands today at the head of the fruit business of Memphis and perhaps of the South.  Mr. Canale is what is rightly termed a self-made man, and has won his position in the social and commercial life of Memphis by his industry, his native ability, and the exercise of correct business principles."  The company's slogan is "Making Friends is Our Business" and they now have a prominent building at 61 S.  Main Street at Union.   They also expanded and opened a branch in Helena, Arkansas. 

Notable Men.

Fire 1902

Produce Wagon 1907

Old Dominick 1908

Dominick Rye 1912

Trade Show Exhibit

1876 Daily Appeal

1915 Warehouse

1915 Warehouse

1911 Billhead

Mike Canale 1877

Mike-Domenic 1878

Death of Andrew's son

Mike Canale 1879

As Canale prospered the Vaccaro relatives also continued in business, but down a different road.  Abraham Vaccaro served as Police and Fire Commissioner, and even helped found the Union and Planters Bank in Memphis.  But by the late 1890s, the Vaccaro's liquor organization was slipping.  At the time of Abraham's death in 1899, the company was in debt  and went through Bankruptcy.   And by 1919, the surviving brothers had  let the firm go out of business.   Directory postings below show the business in good times and at the end. 

1918 - Vaccaro

Abraham B. Vaccato

Vincent Vaccaro

Antonio Vaccaro

This great photo depicts a group of Memphis businessmen who were brought together in 1917 to celebrate Tony Canale's birthday.  In the front row, right side is an easily recognizable Clarence Saunders.  Members of Domenico's family, including all of his sons, are also in the photo but, as yet, not identified. 

- Collection  Drew J. Canale, Jr.

1917 Birthday for Domenico Canale     

Domenico died in 1919 and the company passed down to his eldest son, John D, and then to John D. Jr.  Liquor and Beer sales ended during Prohibition, but once the law was repealed, the company continued with Old Dominick for a time, but eventually shifted its interest to the distribution of beer and produce only.  Through the next several years, D. Canale & Co. became the largest produce distributor in the South.   In 1940, Anheuser-Busch products were added to the company's inventory. In 1956 they sold the produce division and entered the institutional food business.  Later a restaurant material business was added and another food broker was acquired, making the company a force in the institutional food business.

Warehouse  Bldg today

In 1982, the food and beer business was separated from the parent company and D. Canale Food Services and D. Canale Beverages were formed.  John D. Canale III became president of Food Services and Chris W. Canale became chairman of D. Canale Beverages.  In 1999, D. Canale Food Services was sold to Sara Lee.  With annual sales of over 5 million cases of Anheuser Busch products, the company had a gross revenue of $80 million in 2009.  Over many decades, it was the primary beer distributor for the Mid-South.  In September 2010, D. Canale & Co. sold its beer distributing business to the Hand Family Beverage Company of Clarksville, TN.  D. Canale & Co. had been a staple of the Mid-South economy for 144 years and was one of the oldest businesses in Memphis.

Canale Beverages . 45 Crump

The return of Old Dominick ... 

D. Canale & Co. is building a spirits distillery and public tasting room called "Old Dominick" in downtown Memphis.  It's scheduled to open February 2017 in a 1920's-era building at 301 S. Front.  The facility will be used for the production and bottling of ultra premium spirits.

The Canale family has long been involved with scores of charities, and oversees the Canale Foundation, the largest privately funded foundation in Memphis.  Dedicated to its hometown, it was instrumental in refurbishing the New Daisy Theatre, Beale Street, and the Orpheum Theatre.  They have also maintained a strong relationship with the local Boys and Girls club and serve on many boards including the National Bank of Commerce, Christian Brothers University, the Assisi Foundation, the Memphis Food Bank, William R. Moore School of Technology, the Hutchison School, and the Boy Scouts of America.

There are many Canale's in the Memphis area and many of them are pictured below.  Only a Genealogist or another Canale might be able to group them by families.    All Memphis and Mid-South Canale's trace their ancestry to the three brothers:  Michael, Dominic, and Andrew.
 

Any information or enlightenment will be appreciated?  < gene.gill@verizon.net >

John Ford

Canale Arena CBU