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When the post WW2 Italian immigrant Valmorbida family acquired the Lygon Food Store in Carlton in 1951 and started to import parmesan cheese and prosciutto hams from Italy, little did they know then what impact this would have on Carlton’s evolution as Australia’s “Little Italy”. Italian families from Melbourne’s suburbs, Victorian country towns and even interstate flocked to this Lygon Street store to buy the imported foods from their home country.
It was the first store to import Italian and European foods into Australia. Today, Lygon Street is well known for its Italian restaurants, coffee shops delicatessens and specialty wine and bottle shops.
Lygon Food Store has since then widened its food products base and is one of the popular coffee and small goods shops in Lygon Street.While the business has had various owners since the 1950s, the store is currently owned by Pasquale Coco and his business partner Hose where Pasquale has been a part owner since 2004. The store’s outside footpath tables are always popular with their regular customers and visitors who use the opportunity to read newspapers, talk with friends or watch the passing parade while drinking a coffee.
For the coffee drinking fanatics, a key rule applies – “If the coffee shops owner makes and pours the coffee – it will always be good”. That’s why Pasquale spends most of his time on the coffee machine. You can view our interview with Pasquale by watching the video below.
When next in Carlton a visit to the Lygon Food Store to try their coffee is a must. They are located at 263 Lygon Street, west side between Faraday and Grattan Streets.
They also have a liquor licence and the store is open every day between 7 am and 6 pm. Phone: 9347 6279
Special thanks to Pasquale for supplying selected ham products to the recent Caterina’s La Porchetta function and to his friendly staff for their cooperation during the in store filming.
For more information on Lygon Food Store go to www.lygonfoodstore.com.au
To learn more about Carlton’s colourful history purchase “Carlton: A History“ (edited by Peter Yule) from Readings Lygon Street
A few of the friendly & helpful Lygon Food Store staff
[click image to enlarge]
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