The reopening was spearheaded by licensee Edin Basic who said he was determined to serve the local community in the convivial spirit of the pub.
Products sold in the store come through Basic’s Italian contacts and connections, and will include freshly baked focaccia with rosemary, red onion and extra virgin olive oil.
A selection of Italian cheeses
Other treats consist of nocellara olives, antipasti, Parma ham as well as a selection of Italian cheeses and traditional corner shop items like fresh fruit, veg and herbs from the local market. The pub will also sell sourdough bread from the wood-fired oven of neighbouring restaurant Santa Maria.
Basic said: “It’s not in my nature to stay closed and wait for this to blow over – I just had a real desire to find a way to safely continue to serve my community.
“I spoke to my team, my business partners and my suppliers, and we decided that it was time to bring a piece of Italy back to Ealing again – so we opened the pub as a community store.”
Customer and staff safety has been considered first in all of the plans leading up the reopening, added Basic.
“We spent a long time making sure we had a way of ensuring social distancing could be adhered to at all times,” he continued.
What I love doing
“Once that was sorted, I went back to what I love doing – baking fresh bread, providing the best Italian deli produce and bringing life back into the community.
“It has been so well received – I’ve had lovely comments from my customers and seeing them leave with a smile on their face is exactly what we all need right now.”
The shop is open daily from 10am to 5pm and is operating under full social distancing rules, with a one-way system to ensure customer and team safety, added Basic.