A Christmas tradition carries on at Termini Brothers in South Philadelphia
SOUTH PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (WTXF) - As always, a Philadelphia tradition continued with people lined up at a South Philly bakery to grab their cookies, cannolis and other Christmas goodies.
A sweet, sweet moment for people who waited in line for hours, all before sunrise, as they inched ever closer to the front counter at Termini Brothers Bakery in South Philadelphia.
"We get up at four from Baltimore, we come up," said one shopper.
"We woke up at 3:45 a.m. We were in line at, like, 4:30 a.m.," said another shopper.
The doors opened at 6 a.m. Sales immediately slamming with a line that snaked through the back of the bakery.
"You knew that this was going to be a wait. I did, I knew, so when we got tired of standing, we take a chance a piece on the chair," said happy customer.
Just how long would it take?
"Two hours. Three hours," said another customer.
"Two hours and you don't mind waiting?" asked FOX 29.
"Absolutely not," said the customer.
Why not?
"Cannoli, almond cookies, pecan bars," explained a customer.
Cannolis a clear favorite.
"Okay so you've been open for about an hour and a half, how many cannolis would you say you've filled?" asked FOX 29.
"We've filled about 150 pans of cannolis, times three dozen, so give or take, 5400 or 5500 cannolis," said one of the workers at Termini Brothers.
"Wow," said FOX 29, "And how many more do you think you'll do throughout the day?"
"We'll probably triple that. Holy cannoli. Holy cannoli is right. That's what we're here for," said the worker.
But, more than the treats, it's the tradition.
"Come every Christmas Eve. I got engaged here," explained a shopper.
"How long have you been coming?" said FOX 29.
"Oh, about fifty, sixty years. This is my son, this is my daughter, that's my grandson," said another shopper.
"We see people once a year and it's just awesome the way that it's a tradition It's part of it. We've had this for twenty years."
Vince Termini Sr., a second generation owner, leads the tradition. He's at the bakery on Christmas Eve to greet customers and make sure they get their coffee and complimentary cookies, while they wait.
"Some of them come thirty-five years they've been coming here. So, you know, I see the families grow," said Vince Termini Sr.
It's also where he sees his own family grow. At thirteen, grandson John is the youngest Termini Brothers employee.
"It's great that I can be a part of this celebration for so many families and to see my family business work its way into traditions all over the city," said John Termini.
The Termini Family calls this an annual holiday party. There's fun live music and warm, familiar smiles everywhere one looks.
"It's the atmosphere. It gives you just a Christmas feeling no matter how long you wait in line. It's just a great thing," said one shopper.
It's Christmas, South Philly style.