Italian Star Deli
1611 Victoria avenue
In any business, there is always one thing that sets them apart and helps grow their name within their given community. For some, it is their unique set of products and services. For others, it may be their community presence, or it may even be their long and storied history. Well, for Regina’s Italian Star Deli, it may just be all three that makes them a staple stop in the Queen City! Described by their current owner Carlo, Italian Star Deli is an “international market” that brings in globally inspired foods and tastes for the local community to discover and enjoy. Located at 1611 Victoria Avenue, this 53-year-old, family owned business is one that will surely make you want to keep coming back!
The story of Regina’s Italian Star Deli is filled with rich history, years of local customers, and generations of family traditions. In a conversation with Carlo, he described the history of the locally famous deli and discussed the resiliency and longevity the business and his family has shown throughout the years. Arriving in Western Canada from Italy in the middle of the 20th century, Carlo’s parents Frank and Regina (What an amazing name!) brought with them a work ethic and a hope for a fulfilling life here in our beautiful city. After a few years of working in the restaurant industry, and after a brief stint establishing Napoletan Pizza with his brothers Tony and Chris, Frank and his wife Regina came across a chance they just could not pass on. They believed it was important to take full advantage of the opportunities they had worked hard for, so in 1966, Frank purchased the (much smaller) already established Italian Star Deli and decided to keep it as the family business. From there, you could say the rest is history. What started as a small store providing a few rare pastas and meats to a relatively small Italian community, has since grown into a full-fledged marketplace that is both globally and nationally inspired, and locally famous. Today and throughout their 53-year history, Italian Star Deli has continued to reflect the growth of the community and has always ensured that their employees and customers are well taken care of!
In any other business spotlight, you’d typically talk a lot about the products on their shelves, the services they provide, and the qualities that make them unique. However, the same discussions with Carlo at Italian Star Deli always seemed to lead down the path of family and community. Without question, Italian Star Deli has outstanding products and customer service, and the unique characteristics of their business are unmatched anywhere else in the City. Their greatest asset is their passion of family and community! Regina residents are no strangers to the engagement and hospitality that greats them when they walk through the front door of one of the most popular Deli’s in the city. I told Carlo that I admired his family’s and employee’s effort to “go out of their way” to welcome and look after every individual who walks through their door or rings their phone. But he was very quick to correct me, that “we never go out of their way to do anything,” Carlo believes “we were raised that way, that it is our way of life.” Carlo and his staff realize that their central location in the Downtown District, offers them the opportunity to meet and serve residents from all areas of the city. Every day they are open, they strive to be resilient, progressive, welcoming, and supportive for the city and province they call home. When you walk through their front doors, whether it be your first visit or 100th visit, you are always welcomed as a guest, neighbour, or even extended family!
So, if you are still unsure what the Italian Star Deli offers, here is a quick summary of all you need to know! They are a long-time standing family owned business that has served and supported this community for generations! They enjoy interacting with their customers and giving you the most comfortable and enjoyable shopping experience possible! They thrive by offering some of the most unique food items such as pastas, meats, and cheeses, found anywhere in the city! They love being a contributor to the vibrancy of downtown and the progressiveness of our great city! Most importantly, they are a business that honours their history and years of community support, by continuing to grow and serve those most important to them… you! Carlo ensures that credit is always given where necessary, stating that “if it weren’t for my wife Heather and helpers Marina and Gino, the deli would not be experiencing the same success, growth, and bright future as it is right now!” As Carlo looks towards the future, towards the day where he hands the reigns to the next generation in his family, and towards the day where his business expands and grows even further, he ensures that the next 53+ years of the Italian Star Deli will be as resilient, progressive, welcoming, and supportive as the first half century!
Be sure to head downtown and swing by this little taste of Italy right here in the Heart of our City! They would be more than happy to help you!
Where to find Italian Star Deli today:
Address: 1611 Victoria Ave.
Phone: (306) 757-6733
Website: http://www.italianstardeli.com/
Instagram: @italianstardeli
Facebook: @Italian Star Deli
Twitter: @TheItalianStar
