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Roma Market will offer Italian specialty goods

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By Emily Sorensen

North County will have a new place to find Italian speciality goods with Roma Market, which opens on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 1054 West Valley Parkway in Escondido.

The new neighborhood market will feature, in addition to Italian speciality items, a regular market and a deli, which will serve meats and cheese, as well as hot dishes, sandwiches, pizza, gelato and coffee.

Opening Roma Market is a return to family tradition for owner Peter Impala, whose grandfather opened the original Roma Market in Alhambra in 1953. “I grew up in the produce and grocery business,” said Impala. “Roma Market has specialized in providing Italian specialty items since the 1950s.” The store later moved to Pasadena, where it continues to operate to this day, run by Rosario Mazzeo.

The Impala family’s multi-generational grocery legacy began with his grandfather Peter’s “Calfifornia Fruit Exchange,” which opened in Boston at the end of World War I.

Impala, who lives in Poway, said he decided to go back into the grocery business where he lives. “There’s really a need for this kind of market in North County,” said Impala. “We’re filling a niche.”

The business will be holding its grand opening after the first of the year, when the holiday rush dies down.

The market will feature fresh produce and dairy along with its Italian specialties, like pastas, wines and more. “We have a lot of imported products that are unique to our operation and will be new to San Diego County,” said Impala.

Roma Market has a complete kitchen, which allows them to provide fresh, hot pasta dishes for purchase. The store also bakes bread daily, allowing it to serve its sandwiches on homemade bread. It also has a pizza oven and plans to make pizzas to order.

“We’ll be cranking out a lot of food here,” said Impala. “We want to be able to cater to local businesses for lunch.”

Impala said Roma Market will also feature several signature sandwiches that are popular at the Pasadena store, including one known as “the sandwich.”

Roma Market has also partnered with Papa Luna’s Empanadas, and will feature fresh empanadas from the San Diego-based restaurant chain, which has locations in downtown San Diego, Pacific Beach and one in Poway.

Impala said his mother was a gourmet cook who worked in catering, something he helped her with. “It’s food, food, food for me,” he said. “I grew up in it. I’m looking forward to continuing my grandfather’s legacy.”

For more on Roma Market, contact info@romamarkets.com or visit www.romamarkets.com.

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