Wheels of Parmigiano-Reggiano are ready to be cracked, fresh Italian sausages are set for the grill and Prosecco is chilling on ice! On Sunday, August 25 from 11am-4pm, the Italian Centre Shop’s three locations will simultaneously host an epic birthday bash to celebrate 60 years serving Albertans.

“It’s an undertaking our amazing team has been planning for over a year,” says Teresa Spinelli, owner and president of the Italian Centre Shop. “My family, employees and I can’t think of a better way to thank our customers for love and support spanning six decades. My late father, Frank, would be so happy to see the family business thriving while we continue being of service to the community…We truly honour his legacy every day.”

All Italian Centre Shop locations will launch festivities at 11am by cracking a wheel and offering samples of Parmigiano-Reggiano and birthday party staples including live music, balloons, temporary tattoos, face painting, giveaways and of course, birthday cake – in store while supplies last. Vendors, makers and partners are traveling from near and far to participate in the day-long party.

“There’s no place in Canada we’d rather be than in Edmonton celebrating with Teresa and her passionate and hard-working team,” says Flavio Vanacore, vice-president of Brampton-based Gigi Importing. “My father, Tarcisio and the Spinelli’s have been doing business for as long as I can remember. My sister Mena and I are so proud and honoured to carry on our family’s tradition in bringing Italy’s finest products to the Italian Centre Shop’s shelves.”

LITTLE ITALY (in partnership with Festa Italiana at Giovanni Caboto Park)
10878 – 95 Street
Italian sausage on a bun BBQ in support of Knights of Columbus 
Demos:

SOUTHSIDE
5028 – 104A Street
Italian sausage on a bun BBQ in support of Inter Soccer Club of Edmonton (2005 Ongaro)
Messinger Meats pork burgers BBQ in support of Food for Thought

Demos:

  • Gigi Importing – assorted antipasti
  • Stawnichy’s of Mundare, AB – Ukrainian sausage
  • Sgambaro Foods – smoked salmon
  • Bosa Foods – truffle salami
  • Pasta Time – mushroom ravioli and gnocchi

WESTEND
17010 – 90 Avenue
Stawnichy’s Ukranian sausage on a bun BBQ and Big Pan Paella in support of Food for Thought

Demos:

Locations will host in-store gift card giveaways, while customers and party-goers are encouraged to share pictures and memories of the shop’s 60 years on social media channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) leading up to and on Aug. 25 tagging @italiacentre with the hashtag, #happy60spinelli.

“We’re only turning 60 once,” says Teresa. “Edmontonians are invited to come by to our shops, eat and have some fun…It’s a known fact – Italians really know how to throw a party!”.

Celebrations continue at the Italian Centre Shop’s Calgary location in Willow Park on Saturday, September 7.

ABOUT THE ITALIAN CENTRE SHOP

The Italian Centre Shop is Alberta’s largest family-owned specialty food retailer and grocer, operating four locations in Edmonton and Calgary. Founded in 1959 by Frank Spinelli and now led by daughter Teresa, the Edmonton-based shops stock local produce and European specialty foods and products, scratch-made take-home meals and provide wholesale distribution to over 800 restaurants across Alberta. Italian Centre Shop’s Calgary location opened in 2015 as part of the company’s expansion plans in western Canada.

The Italian Centre Shop has been named one of “Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies” by Canadian Business Magazine, one of “Canada’s Best Employers for Recent Graduates” by The Career Directory and one of “Alberta’s Top Employers” by the Calgary Herald and Edmonton Journal. The Italian Centre Shop continues to be a gathering place for Albertans of all ages and shopping destination for food enthusiasts, paying homage to old-world culinary traditions while celebrating life and how we eat, today.