Glorioso’s Italian Market, the Brady Street staple that has stocked Milwaukee kitchens since 1946, is slicing prosciutto again. After a three-month shutdown caused by an October fire, the shop quietly reopened with a soft relaunch on Wednesday, Jan. 7 and is now rolling that comeback into a six-week grand reopening and 80th anniversary celebration. The owners say the stretch of specials, giveaways and public events is their way of thanking loyal customers and neighbors, and regulars can expect deli counters, bakery favorites and familiar faces back in their usual spots through late February, as reported by OnMilwaukee.
Co-owner Carmine Presta says the restoration centered on keeping the market’s longtime “look and feel” intact while replacing damaged systems and rewiring after smoke and water intrusion. According to OnMilwaukee, crews carefully cleaned and refurbished memorabilia and family photos so the store would feel the same to returning shoppers, and the team focused on bringing staff back on payroll during the closure.
Six-week celebration, freebies and contests
The Grand Reopening 80th Anniversary celebration runs Monday, Jan. 19 through Feb. 28 and comes with a full slate of promos: free Glorioso’s artisan dried pasta for current and new rewards members, weekly sauce-jar giveaways and a chance to win a trip for two to Rome. Per FOX6, the store is also dangling a grand prize of a deli sandwich once a week for a year, plus a limited-edition 80th anniversary T-shirt for sale during the festivities.
Ribbon cutting and owner meet-and-greet
The market has set an official ribbon cutting for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20, followed by refreshments in the café from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Mayor Cavalier Johnson is expected to join the party, Milwaukee Record reports. The store plans to hand the first 50 customers $50 gift cards that morning, and an owner-led cake and coffee event is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21, when Michael Glorioso is slated to appear alongside the new owners.
What the October fire cost and what was rebuilt
Fire crews traced the early October blaze to an electrical issue on the building’s second floor, and smoke along with mitigation water damaged equipment and thousands of grocery items throughout the market. WISN reports the Prestas estimate roughly $4 million in restoration costs and say the rebuild included a new IT room, improved employee facilities and refreshed back-of-house space. Owners and customers alike have described the reopening as a shared community moment after a tough few months.
New ownership, same local focus
The Presta brothers, who operate Illinois-based Valli Produce, completed the transition to ownership in 2024 and have repeatedly said they plan to keep the market’s recipes, staff and character intact, local business outlets noted. BizTimes and others documented the ownership and building purchase as part of that 2024 transition, which the Prestas say positions Glorioso’s for careful growth while preserving its East Side roots.
For shoppers, the upshot is familiar deli counters and bakery cases back in rotation and a six-week lineup of giveaways and events that should keep Brady Street buzzing. For full event dates, prize rules and updated hours, the market recommends checking its website or stopping by the store in person: Glorioso’s Italian Market.
