Italian Centre Shop to open fifth location

Edmonton's Italian Centre Shop is opening a location in Strathcona County's Sherwood Park--an urban service area adjacent to Edmonton's eastern boundary--in the fall of 2021, bringing the independent grocer's store count to five.

The 22,500-sq.-ft. space will include a licensed 50-seat cafe, 30-seat patio and the Italian Centre Shop's signature deli featuring more than 500 cured meats, bakery and grocery offerings, according to a blog post on the Italian Centre Shop website. Italian Centre Shop currently operates three stores in Edmonton and one store in Calgary.

"My father Frank started importing newspapers and coffee beans in the heart of Edmonton's Little Italy to Italians 60 years ago..." said Teresa Spinelli, owner and president of the Italian Centre Shop. "We're proud to keep his legacy alive and expand our footprint in central Alberta to such a culturally-diverse, family-oriented and rapidly growing area."

The new store will anchor Emerald Hills Urban Village, a mixed-use commercial centre with financial services, quick service restaurants, a three-storey office/medical building and a 200-unit residential building.

In its blog post, Italian Centre Shop said the new store would include new design elements such as a pizza oven, dining counter, cheese wall and demonstration stations. Edmonton-based OCI Architecture Inc. is overseeing design of the new space.