In 1968, Valentino and Antonietta Mucciarelli purchased the property at 242 Pelham Road and opened a corner variety store. For the next four decades, they successfully served the community—first for 17 years as Connie's Variety, then for 23 years under the Avondale Food Stores Ltd. banner.

After 40 successful years in business, the family made the difficult decision to step away from the industry in 2008 due to Valentino's declining health. Sadly, Valentino passed away in 2013, just one month before his 65th birthday.

Fast-forward to November 2018, when a series of events—some might call it fate—motivated our family to return to the business that had been such an important part of our lives. We decided to open a new venture in Valentino's honor.

Valentino had always believed that food should be fresh and wholesome, never compromising on quality. We've made this philosophy the cornerstone of Valentino's Italian Food Market. Building on the traditional convenience store model, we've added a carefully curated selection of healthy, high-quality prepared foods, including fresh ready-to-eat meals, grab-and-go options, frozen foods, and catering services.

Everything we serve is made in-house by hand, using locally sourced, premium ingredients and time-honored techniques passed down through generations. We're committed to carrying forward the traditions of authentic food preparation—the way food used to be made.

We hope you'll enjoy our unique store and the care we put into everything we offer.

— The Mucciarelli Family