A Little Bit of Italy...Right in Massapequa

Italian markets are renowned worldwide for their selection of fresh and zesty foods, and now a little bit of Italy has come to Massapequa in the form of Uncle Giuseppe's Italian Market, which held it's grand opening celebration recently.

The company, founded in 1998 and solely Long Island-based, employs about 600 people. The Massapequa location, located at 37 Hicksville Road, is Uncle Giuseppe's fifth addition to their line-up.

Arielle Brechisci, manager of corporate communications, says that Uncle Giuseppe's crosses the line between your typical Stop and Shop and specialty food stores.

"We're a gourmet Italian market combined with a full-service supermarket," she said. "So we have gourmet food and dinners, but also your basic Bounty paper towels and Special K."

First-time customers of Uncle Giuseppe's might find themselves intimidated by gourmet deli and dessert cases that seem to stretch towards the horizon, all filled to bursting with diverse selections delicious-looking salads, cheeses, meats, fish, and cakes that would threaten to bring even the most diet-conscious individual to the brink of crazed gluttony.

Brechisci noted that shopper satisfaction is Uncle Giuseppe's number one priority.

"We have fantastic customer service," she said. "We go out of our way for our customers, since they're the most important part of our business. We really believe that."

"Something else that sets us apart is that you can actually watch our mozzarella being made in a machine that we imported direct from Italy," Brechisci added. "You can watch the ravioli coming right off the machine in the store, watch us stuff our sausage...you can see it all being made if front of you. That's how you know it's fresh."

However, if you do plan on shopping at Uncle Giuseppe's, you might want to consider bringing a sweater.

"The food cases are all open, and they pump out cold air all day long," Brechisci said. "Because we have so much fresh food, our stores are colder than other stores."

Philip Delprete, president and CEO of Uncle Giuseppe's, thinks that his establishment is a perfect fit for the surrounding area.

"We're very excited about Massapequa," he said. "We had a soft opening a week ago, and it seems like the people in the town really accepted and embraced Uncle Giuseppe's, and we're excited to be able to serve them. The demographic here suits us very well."

In the end, Brechisci says Massapequa's newest supermarket delivers the goods...and then some.

"Uncle Giuseppe's believes in excellent food, world-class customer service, and a great shopping experience for our customers." she said.

Martha Delhagerty got up bright and early for the big Grand Opening this morning.

"I haven't been in this store yet, but I've shopped at the Uncle Giuseppe's in East Meadow," she said. "It's really good...good quality, good prices. And this location is convenient, because I don't have to go to East Meadow anymore!"