Dubbed as “worst kept secret” by local foodies, Edmonton-based Italian Centre Shop is excited to officially announce details of its upcoming expansion set for Fall 2021. Strathcona County’s Sherwood Park will be home to the Shop’s fifth location at 8005 Emerald Drive in Emerald Hills Urban Village. As an anchor tenant, the 22,500sq. ft. space will feature a licensed 50-seat cafe, 30-seat patio and the Italian Centre Shop’s signature deli, bakery and grocery offerings.
“My father Frank started importing newspapers and coffee beans in the heart of Edmonton’s Little Italy to Italians 60 years ago…” says 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.”
Emerald Hills Urban Village, located in the northeast corner of Sherwood Park is adjacent to the Strathcona Community Hospital. Neighbouring businesses to the Italian Centre Shop will include a unique, mixed-use commercial centre with financial services, quick service restaurants, a three-storey office/medical building and a 200-unit residential building. With a projected population of just under 90K by 2024 within a 7km radius, Spinelli expects to also service surrounding communities including southeast Edmonton, Ardrossan, Fort Saskatchewan and South Cooking Lake.
“From opening its first location in Edmonton’s Little Italy, to the announcement of this new store, the Spinelli name has been synonymous with the tastes and traditions of Europe, all under one roof,“ says Cameron Naqvi, President of Cameron Corporation. “As a family business as well, we feel extremely fortunate to work with the Italian Centre Shop, and are pleased it has chosen Emerald Hills to further share its established brand with a new generation of shoppers.”
At the helm of the new space design and concept will be Edmonton-based OCI Architecture Inc. who have played an integral part in the Shop’s Southside, West End and Calgary stores. Exciting design elements for customers to look forward to include a pizza oven and dining counter, cheese wall display and state-of-the-art demonstration stations.
“Expect the unexpected,” says designer Sid Assaf. “We value Teresa’s trust in our ability to develop meaningful design to reflect the heart and soul of what the Italian Centre Shops represent. In collaboration with our long-time clients, we are truly planning a feast for the senses. We look forward to unveiling a unique design that reflects the community this shop will serve.”
The Sherwood Park location will deliver the consumer experience that long-time shoppers will have grown accustomed to with Spinelli Bar Italia exclusively serving KIMBO brand espresso, an extensive bread and pastry program and Western Canada’s largest deli featuring over 500 cured meats, cheeses, olives and antipasti. 140 parking stalls will enhance the consumer’s shopping experience.
“I’m asked every day by loyal customers who live in Sherwood Park when we’ll open a location in the east…It’s humbling to know that after this long, Albertans keep supporting our family business and want to be part of our growth,” says Teresa, “We’ve finally found a space to accommodate our needs operationally, but it meant a lot to our organization to open in an area with food lovers of all ages, busy families and a community known for supporting local businesses. We are very blessed.”
ABOUT THE ITALIAN CENTRE SHOP
The Italian Centre Shop is Alberta’s largest family-owned specialty food retailer and grocer, currently operating four locations in Edmonton and Calgary. As part of the company’s expansion plans in Western Canada, a fifth location is slated to open Fall 2021 in Sherwood Park, AB.
Founded in 1959 by Frank Spinelli and led today by daughter Teresa, the Edmonton-based grocer stocks local and imported produce, European specialty foods and products, provides wholesale distribution to over 800 restaurants across Alberta and has become a gathering place for Albertans with an affinity for great coffee and a love for their community.
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 Albertans eat, today.
ABOUT CAMERON DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Established in 1979, Cameron Development Corporation is a commercial real estate development company based in Edmonton, Alberta, that has earned a reputation for producing projects of the highest quality and standard. Cameron has developed, owned and operated some of the most successful retail projects in Canada, including South Edmonton Common, a 2.4-million-square-foot power centre that has become one of the largest and most successful retail developments in Canada.
Cameron is currently under development with 14 retail centres totalling in excess of three million square feet, including Currents of Windermere (1.1 million square foot retail shopping centre), Manning Town Centre (850,000 square foot retail power centre), and Albany Market Square (450,000 square foot Walmart-anchored shopping centre). Cameron has developed several of the highest-quality retail projects of various sizes over the past several years, and continues to be one of the most active retail developers in Western Canada.