Cigar history uncovered in renovations

(Scranton Times Tribune) Work on the former Avanti Cigar building on the 1000 block of North Main Avenue in Scranton uncovered a bit of history: the painted sign reading “Parodi Cigar Co. of NY.”
Contractors razed the 1960s-era addition and a storage facility but preserved the original, three-story brick and masonry building. Removing a layer of stucco exposed the brick and painted logo, a nod to the Avanti company’s history.
The Suraci brothers moved the company from the New York City area to Scranton in the 1930s, but they wanted to maintain the association with New York City, said Dominick Keating, president emeritus at Avanti Cigar. Continued