Business & Tech

New Local Market Offers Unique Italian Foods

A Peters Township couple is opening the modern Italian market in North Strabane this spring.

A new market is opening, and it isn’t a name you won’t recognize.

Pasquale Merante opened the first Merante Italian family market in Oakland in 1905, which continues to operate today. 

Now, residents Anthony (grandson of Pasquale) and Domenica Merante are bringing the beloved grocery—and more—to the area this spring.

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The husband and wife team said the mission of Merante Brothers Market is to bring the neighborhood store back to the neighborhood, but with a modern flair. 

“We’re offering drive-thru amenities, a takeout window, more items to choose from and more room to enjoy—and parking,” Domenica Merante told Patch.

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She said the family is aiming to provide the product that Italian neighborhood specialty stores used to have.

The colorful building is located in North Strabane near Southpointe at the intersection of West McMurray and Morganza roads.

A coffee shop, a market and a cucina will fill the roomy space charmed with murals of old family photographs and picturesque views of the family’s hometown in Pentone, Calabria—where a third Merante market operates.

The Cucina di Domenica will offer prepared meals, walk-in lunch, specials of the day and cooking classes with old-fashioned Italian hospitality—and a wood-fired oven. 

“Everyone knows me for my lasagna and my marinara sauce around here,” Domenica said. “I’ve been selling it out of my home refrigerator and freezer for years.”

The Caffe d’Antonio will offer baked goods from Mediterra Bakehouse and fresh-brewed gourmet coffees from La Prima. Early risers, listen up! It will open at 5:30 a.m. for commuters, and offers a convenient drive-thru service for those on the go. 

The deli will feature Boar's Head meats, which Domenica said will be a huge draw for customers.

"We're going to have hundreds of cheeses, coppas and prosciuttos," she said. "Also, some Greek cheeses, olives and middle Eastern type foods—a little bit of everything. We'll have more than 250 dry goods, some organic dairy products and produce, too. 

"It will be a full-blown market," Domenica said. "People can come in, do their shopping, then go home and make dinner."

The deli board will also feature a signature sandwich, which they stole (with permission) from Anthony's sisters, Julie and Filomena, at Groceria Merante—rightfully dubbed "The Sisters' Sandwich." 

The sandwich boasts three pounds of meat and cheeses, and is served on an entire loaf of bread.

Traditional, artisanal pasta from Fede will be used for pasta dishes. Uncle Sal's homemade hot and sweet sausage will be sold, as well as specialty frozen products inlcuding gelato, desserts and more. 

Hungry yet?

The market will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the cucina will be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The entire building has Wi-Fi.

Check out Merante Brothers Market's website for more information, and follow its updates on Facebook. Stay tuned to Peters Patch for grand opening details.

This story originally appeared on Peters Patch


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