A bakery in the Belmont section of the Bronx is helping its customers and fellow business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Peter Madonia is a third-generation owner of the Madonia Bakery, and he knows a thing or two about survival during an outbreak.

“My grandfather started in this neighborhood in 1918, and so that's when the Spanish flu epidemic occurred similar to what's happening today, and he was in business.” Madonia says. “He provided food for people in the middle of an epidemic in the same way we are.”

A standard to serve still stands at the 101-year-old bakery as well as other local eats. The businesses came together to create a website with all the necessary information for the best spots in Little Italy.

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“It was put on our website all of the retail businesses that are open, that are essential food services, with the phone number and allow people to call and ask for curbside service if they want,” Madonia says.

The service ensures residents and customers to know about and practice social distancing.

“We don't want people coming here, except with a purpose right now. In normal times, people come here and enjoy the whole day,” Madonia says. He adds that customers are happy to know which businesses are open, as city mandates change.

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“They're happy in the context of they want to do exactly what I said I wanted to do in this business, and that is to serve the customers and take care of their employees,” Madonia says.

Madonia says his main mission is for customers to know they can still get their favorite eats in their neighborhood.