After 100 years, Tacoma’s family of sausage makers ends production, closes deli
The Verones began making sausage in Tacoma around 1923. Just shy of 100 years later, the family has ceased operations, closing both their production arm and the retail storefront they opened just 18 months ago.
Verone’s Sausage Co. sold wholesale links and ground sausage — based off owner Joe Verone’s Italian grandfather’s recipe — to select area restaurants, including The Cloverleaf, Joeseppi’s and Macaluso’s, as well as Stadium Thriftway. His daughter Renee Verone spearheaded the opening of Verone’s Italian Kitchen at 604 Regents Blvd. in Fircrest in December 2020.
“I always knew he wanted to open up a new store. It’s a little later in life than he wanted,” Renee Verone told The News Tribune at the time. “It’s exciting to see my dad who has worked his whole life to save this, to make sure this company exists, and has always been part of the community. Even in retirement, he was able to make that vision come to life.”
Messages left with the store and Verone, who is also a high school history teacher, were not immediately returned.
The family posted a typical cheery “fresh sausage!” message to Facebook on April 14. Four days later, they wrote that both the wholesale sausage business and retail market would close permanently at the end of the month.
“The Verones have had a great time being your sausage company for 100 years and now the family has decided it’s time to retire,” it said. “Throughout the decades and generations of sharing our family recipes with you, we have cherished your support. Thank you for the memories.”
One commenter likened the news to “a death in the family,” adding, “There goes our traditional Christmas breakfast.” She and many others encouraged them to enjoy retirement.
The market doubled as a deli and sandwich shop, selling sausages on a roll and cheesy meatball subs to a region in dire need of classic Italian American sandwiches.
Verone’s had replaced a Fircrest mainstay, Viafore’s Italian Delicatessen, which closed in 2020 — incidentally also on the last day of April. Owner David Viafore had taken over the former Jim’s Deli at age 21, and at age 55 was ready for the next phase of his life.
By April 28, the last of the Verone’s sausage had been sold. The shop hoped to run through its remaining stock of housemade lasagna and packaged goods: imported pasta and olive oil, wine and beer.
Writing for perhaps the final time to its followers on social media, a post read, “Saturday is our last day so it all needs to go.”
This story was originally published May 5, 2022 at 5:00 AM.