Domicile Development’s ‘Nuovo’ high-rise project just off Preston Street will feature a new La Bottega grocery store, something residents of the Little Italy community say they need.
It was announced on Feb. 3 that the Italian grocer, which has been serving the Byward Market successfully for 20 years, would be opening a second location in the west-side Centretown neighborhood.
Pat Nicastro, whose family owns La Bottega, says numerous high-rise developers had approached him before, but the timing had never been right to open a second store.
“We just felt that at the time we wanted to perfect the store we have. At this point now we’re ready for the next step,” Nicastro says.
“Domicile made us a great deal and we felt this was an area which needed more services and products that we offer.”
Domicile’s project ‘Nuovo’, literally meaning new in Italian, will be an 18-story high-rise on the corner of Pamilla Street and Rochester Street in Little Italy.
The high-rise design is inspired by 1900s European architecture and is described as having a flair of Italian culture, such the large outdoor patio on the main floor.
“It’s fabulous for our owners and the neighborhood,” says David Chick, senior vice-president at Domicile.
“The community is looking for a daily food staple, and we’ve known this, so we set out to find a good Italian grocer to bring in.”
Nicastro says that over the years he has heard from people in Little Italy saying there is a lack of retail food businesses.
“We’re happy that we will be able to come in and fill a need in the area,” Nicastro says.
Preston Street community representative Joe Castroneo, a board member with the Preston Street Business Improvement Area, says a grocery store is desperately needed in the area.
“Its got Italian content which we’re always interested in and it’s going to be a great cultural addition to the street.”
Although the Preston Street BIA has been opposed to high-rise intensification on Preston Street itself, Castroneo says the association has no problem with the building of high-rises on the perimeter of Preston Street.
“Having the Italian grocer there is a bonus. It’s going to be great to have them participating in events like Italian Week.”
Nicastro says the store is not going to be just your traditional grocer.
“We want to make it an experience. Customers can get a glass of wine at the lunch counter, they can have a coffee, they can go shop, they can taste stuff we serve and they can buy the products right there. We’re even going to have cooking classes too.”