PACIFIC BEACH – When Luca Colasanto and Frances Manai started Gusto Grocery, they never imagined they would one day open a neighborhood deli serving fresh pasta and Italian sandwiches.
For years, the business distributed authentic Italian food products online with a small storefront for pick-up service at their original warehouse-cum-office location near Morena Boulevard.
But as the company looked to expand its warehouse and open a retail storefront, a new opportunity emerged to offer freshly prepared Italian food with the very ingredients that they sell. Close friend Giorgio Corletti partnered with them to operate the food service.
After a long search for the perfect spot, the new location opened in December on Garnet Ave. in Pacific Beach. The store sells its hard-to-find Italian products and, as of earlier this year, the kitchen started serving up authentic Italian sandwiches and pastas to-go.
“The response has been fantastic,” Colasanto said. “We already have a bunch of returning customers.”
Their existing customer base has also proven loyal. Some customers drive from as far as Temecula to source their favorite Italian specialty items.
“People are really willing to travel long distances to get access to some of the products that we carry,” Colasanto said.
Inside the store, shelves are lined with imported olive oils, pastas, cheeses, and cured meats sourced directly from Italy. “We really, really focus on, you know, imported high-quality ingredients,” Colasanto said.
The addition of a small kitchen allowed Gusto to translate those ingredients into ready-to-eat meals. The deli menu centers on fresh, homemade pasta and Italian-style sandwiches.
Among the customer favorites are the calabrese, featuring spicy ’nduja salami, and the Milan, with prosciutto capo and a porcini mushroom sauce with caramelized onions.
Beyond serving up food, Colasanto said they hope to become a hub for the community in Pacific Beach. Community members can grab a sandwich with a friend to take to the beach, or better yet, bring a friend to the store to dream up an authentic Italian meal to cook together. The friendly and knowledgeable staff, Colasanto said, can guide customers through that process.
“We wanted to really bring some authentic market experience,” Colasanto said. “We want to really make this store a center for the neighborhood.”
