Altomonte's Expanding With Bakery In Warminster

WARMINSTER, PA —While one longtime Italian eatery celebrates 50 years, a popular Italian market is expanding.

Township Zoning Officer Mike Italia said that he spoke this past week with Vince Grispino —one of Altomonte’s owners —and that plans are to open the bakery on Street Road possibly at the end of September.

The business will be called Alto Bakery and Cafe.

Italia said that the back of the Street Road property right next to the Burger King should be ready to be "up and running here shortly" with some test baking.

He said the goal is to have the front of the property opened by the end of September.

An email was sent to Grispino Tuesday seeking additional comment.

Business activity has been progressing in the township of late with work on Tesla's first dealership in Bucks County moving along, construction set to begin on Arby's, and Mike's Bar and Grill planning a reopening.

Altomonte's has served the Warminster community since 1971 when Italian immigrants Mike and Frances Grispino opened their first butcher shop in 1971.

Called Mike’s Meat Market, the shop also became known for offering Italian specialties, spices, and products that Mike and Frances imported because they couldn’t find them anywhere in America.

Later, they changed the name of the market to the source of their imports — the town where Mike and Frances grew up —to Altomonte, Italy.

Altomonte —located in the heart of Calabria in southern Italy —is a small town of just over 4,000 people and to Mike and Frances, it represents the flavor and aroma of true Old World Italian cooking.

In creating Altomonte’s, the goal was to create a store where customers love to shop for the family's recipes.

Altomonte’s has grown into two large markets in Doylestown and Warminster, each with a bakery, a deli, a butcher, a large selection of imported and local products, ready-made meals, a cafe, and a catering service.

After nearly 50 years in business, Almonte's is still 100 family-owned and employs more than 250 people. (Giuseppe's Pizza, another Street Road business, is celebrating 50 years in Warminster in November.)

Altomonte’s second location is at 856 N. Easton Road in Doylestown.

(Photo by Dino Ciliberti/Patch) Work is progressing on Alto, a bakery being added by Almonte's, on Street Road.