Italian Centre Shop - Little Italy

The Italian Centre Shop first opened in Edmonton in Little Italy to provide people with a taste of home-grown Italian favourites. Over 50 years later, we are still providing Edmontonians with specialty European imports from over 15 Countries. Our deli has over 200 cheeses and 100 deli meats, as well as olives, seafood, and much more. Walk through our aisles to find your favourite old country chocolates, biscuits, spreads, olive oils, balsamic vinegars, a wide selection of gluten free products, canned and fresh tomatoes, a spectacular variety of produce….and much more. Each morning our Southside bakery makes fresh rustic breads that your family will be sure to love. The Italian Centre Shop has always been a gathering place and now with Spinelli’s Bar Italia, you can enjoy an authentic espresso or cappuccino in-store before or after you shop. Stop in at either location for a cultural experience, unique in our very cultural city.

Established in 1964.
In 1959, after years of working odd jobs and ever the entrepreneur, Frank and friend Remiro Zalunardo combined their resources to buy a tiny store on the corner of 95th Street and 108th Avenue, selling mainly Italian magazines, pop, and chocolate until a sudden surge in the local Italian population found them besieged with requests for all kinds of home-grown Italian favorites. It was during this period Frank led a vigorous lobby to legalize homemade wine. Frank and company convinced the provincial government to remove its restriction on home brewing. The law was changed in 1964, the same year Frank assumed full ownership of the Italian Centre Shop. He would soon become the biggest supplier of Italian grapes (40,000 cases in some years) and wine making equipment in the community. Today, daughter Teresa runs the family business, recently expanding to include an upscale new location just South of 51 Avenue on 104-A Street.

Teresa S.
Business Owner
Following in her parent’s footsteps, Teresa is an active and involved owner/operator.
Teresa graduated from the University of Alberta with a BA, Psychology in 1983. She has worked every type of job at the Italian Centre Shop since she was able, from cashier and shelf stocker to administrative office work. In 2000 she took over the presidency of the company and in 2003 opened a 2nd location in South Edmonton (5028-104A Street).
She is an active Member of Santa Maria Goretti Church, Italian Chamber of Commerce, & the McCauley Community League.
She was a founding member of the Avenue of Nations Business Revitalization Zone and key organizer of $800,000 renovation of Giovanni Caboto Park, “providing a safe and vibrant park for the kids who are the heart and soul of our community.”
Teresa is a recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, Global’s Woman of Vision, and the Alberta Centennial Medal.
Since 2005, Teresa has been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs by Profit Magazine.