For Italians, delicious bountiful meals are a way of life and the dinner table is where we bond. It's where families come together, friends are found, memories are made and business is done. Come, step into Europe. We are the ultimate pantry, deli, bakery, cafe, specialty grocery and slow made take home meals all under one roof.
The Italian Centre Shop, smells and feels like an Italian street market. A place for family and friends to gather and take in a sensual feast of creamy espresso in the café, fresh bread wafting from the bakery, a European delicatessen, crispy fresh local and imported produce, and over thirty thousand specialty items and everyday pantry staples including Europe's best known and hard-to-find gourmet items.more...See more text
When Frank Spinelli opened a small corner store with partner Remiro Zalunardo in 1959, it was to sell Italian magazines, newspapers, sodas and chocolate. Today, Italian Centre Shop has grown into a major retailer, wholesaler and specialty import store for Western Canada.
“I inherited the store in 2000,” Teresa Spinelli says. “My father started it to fill a demand for news from home. A lot of the immigrants didn’t know what was happening back in Italy. Now, we have over 24,000 items imported from Italy and from all over the world.”
On Sat July 16 at about 5pm we ordered the usual pizza item no 3 ( capficcosiosa ) ? ) as we do on a regular basis. Not only was this order late in coming but the pizza crust was wet and soggy. We cut into a slice and found it disgusting as it was not appetizing due to crust being wet. I requested a refund but there was no way to get a refund as a number of staff did not know has how to process a visa refund so they reimbursed with cash. A total disgusting experience.
Entering Spinelli’s Bar Italia at the west end Italian Centre Shop during lunch time means a wait to order food, and a slim possibility of finding seating. But there’s a reason for that; the food is well worth the wait. Plenty of people in the area come for the coffee itself, not to mention the pizza specials, salads and pastas.
A trip to the bakery at the Italian Centre Shop is a no-fail situation – regardless of what you leave with, it’s going to be delicious and fresh. The Italian Centre Shop sells éclairs and cream puffs, which you can buy individually or in a platter. This bakery brags about its “old fashioned recipes with a modern twist,” so you know it puts its pastry where its mouth is.