He is at home in the living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens of the First Ward. On a recent Tuesday evening at St. Anthony, after a Mass and healing service, Laffler chatted with Hermes Acuna, who is from Ecuador and helps out in the church. Down the street and around the corner, Peter Zisa, the owner of Paul's Market, says Laffler has a standing account with him. Zisa, a distant cousin to the mayor of Hackensack and his brother, the police chief, has owned the small grocery store and catering business since 1976. He was born in Italy.
People feel comfortable here.
But even his charm can't overcome the changing demographics. But it didn't go over. And even his Italian customers are slowly slipping away. He used to sell 60 to 70 loaves of Italian bread a day. Now he sells eight to 10.