Thomas “Tommy” Barcia Jr., the founder of the popular Adrian and Rocky’s Catering at 132-08 Crossbay Blvd. in Ozone Park, died Saturday at the age of 61.
Since founding the catering company in 1981, Barcia spent nearly every day there serving the Queens and Long Island community members. Throughout the over 40 years he spent running Adrian and Rocky’s, Barcia always went above and beyond for his customers. He often made personal connections and conversed with those who called or came in.
Barcia grew up with a large Italian family in South Ozone Park. He got his entrepreneurial start selling heart-shaped balloons at fairs across Queens. Later, he began selling soft pretzels to local candy shops. Eventually, he would open his own grocery store in Ozone Park, the Milk Farm, which offered fresh produce and Italian deli meats. Additionally, he opened up his own all-you-can-eat pasta restaurant, as well as a pizzeria. After all these ventures, he settled in at Adrian and Rocky’s.
Barcia is survived by his wife, Joanne Barcia, with whom he had been together since they were 16, his son Thomas Barcia III, and his granddaughter, Gianna.
