Opened in 1920 by Nunzio and Jennie Dapolito, Vesuvio quickly became a favorite in the SoHo community. The same year Vesuvio opened, they welcomed their son, Anthony, who eventually ran the bakery for many years to come. Anthony was an icon, known to many as the heart and soul of Greenwich Village. He was not just a baker, but a staunch defender of New York City's parks and who sat on Community Board 2 for 52 years until his death in 2003.

Today, Vesuvio Bakery, Vesuvio Park and the Anthony Dapolito Recreation Center pay homage to Anthony's great contribution and love for New York City. The goal of the revamped and reimagined bakery is to honor and respect Vesuvio’s 100-year history, serving fresh baked Italian pastries, bread loaves, cookies, soft serve gelato, and more.