Located on Erie Street, just east of Parent is La Stella Supermarket. One of a dying breed of local grocery stores.
Opened in 1969, it is one of Windsor’s best kept little secrets. Their selection for items like pasta and italian cheeses, are second to none, and their prices on par with the big chains.
A great history of the business can be found here, along with a local blog post on the subject too.
Remember to support your local businesses, the grocery stores like La Stella and Giglio’s out by the University, and the small hardware stores like Potomiski’s and Canada Salvage are what makes this city tick.
I drove by Potomiski’s yesterday and it looked empty.
This is an incredible store. More pasta for sale than in Italy!
Support your local stores and make them stronger.
This is a must-see. YOu’ll feel like you’ve gone on holiday and discvered a real find.
I thought I was back on St. Clair Avenue in Toronto.
Loved it.
This is an incredible store. More pasta for sale than in Italy!
Support your local stores and make them stronger.
This is a must-see. YOu’ll feel like you’ve gone on holiday and discvered a real find.
I thought I was back on St. Clair Avenue in Toronto.
Loved it.
This is an incredible store. More pasta for sale than in Italy!
Support your local stores and make them stronger.
This is a must-see. YOu’ll feel like you’ve gone on holiday and discvered a real find.
I thought I was back on St. Clair Avenue in Toronto.
Loved it.
The problem with Potomski’s is he’s the only one running the place and he’s only there a few hours a day and then the place is closed. I ‘ve gone there a few times to get my keys cut only to find the doors locked. I guess he expects you to call ahead. Problem with Canada Salvage is that they need to extend their hours of operation (they’re only open until 5-6pm). I still go there on occasion. Both are closer than Depot, but I end up having to go to Depot because of the hours.
I’ve been he La Stella before. They need to advertise thier specials more like Elias’ (which is also local).
In fact, I don’t even remember the last time I saw an ad for La Stella’s. I think I just saw it walking through little Italy and walked inside. They definitely need to advertise.
We need more notifications of stores like these! I want to know of every single local, independant retailer in this city and then pledge to become a customer. We will not fight the big-box stores that are stripping away our choices, diversity and local identity any other way.
Is there a way we can catalogue these stores, preferably on a map of the city, and start directing people in this direction? We need some good IT people on this ASAP!
Chris, that sounds like a chamber of commerce job, no?
Chris is right. Little stores like this seem to be “hiding in plain view” all over Windsor’s urban centres. I probably passed La Stella countless times before deciding one day to walk in and investigate. The store interior is actually very deep and well-stocked with just about anything one would need by way of groceries, plus a generous selection of imported Italian goodies (naturally). The store is neat as a pin and family operated. They were very friendly and accomodating. The owner says he is very selective about the produce he shelves and from our experience he’s telling the truth. I think I bought the best watermelon I’ve tasted in years from La Stella. Price-wise, it’s not Food Basics or Price Chopper but the prices were in-line with the competition out there. I think the olive oil prices were actually lower than what I’m used to seeing in the big chain grocery stores, ironically.
If you live nearby, I second Andrew’s suggestion that you drop and give La Stella a try. I believe they are open until 7pm.
If it is, Fausto, they sure aren’t doing a very good job, are they?
I’ve given up on hoping that these people are doing their job to the best of their ability. Look at this city. We citizen consumers must decide what we want and vote accordingly with our dollars.
Think of the resource an interactive map of the city showcasing all our local independant retailers would be! Each store highlighted and clickable showing all the whos, whats, wheres and whys. Kind of something like WindsorEats does with restaurants and their menu guide.
I know my shopping habits would change instantly. Yours?
As a kid growing up in the neighbourhood of Olive and Pilette, I remember going to the Seminole Market, of course on Seminole street. I haven’t been back in that area for a long time, is that market still there? it also served the community around it as the above mentioned stores. When going to university it was always Giglio’s!
Chirs, Google mash ups allow you to do that, cheaper and simpler to use than the city’s GIS system. The city of Nanaimo uses it exclusively for everything the city does!
Chris, it’s the businesses responsibity to advertise
Fausto, you need to pay to be a member of the Chamber of Commerce, as it’s not funded by the government, and then your business shows up in their directory. I think it’s like $400 a year for a membership.
Urbanrat, I was wondering something along those lines too. Like Google Earth placemarks or something. Of course, a little urban exploration does wonders too. It’s amazing what’s out there beyond the confines of our “computer room”. 😉
John and others here is the link to the City of Namaimo’s map info:
http://www.nanaimo.ca/residents/index_inside.asp?id=468&parent=19&sub_collection=91
John and others here is the link to the City of Namaimo’s map info:
http://www.nanaimo.ca/residents/index_inside.asp?id=468&parent=19&sub_collection=91
In reqards to Seminole Provisions it closed many years ago, probably 17+, The owners were ready to retire at the time, I was surprised they didn’t try to sell the name since it was still thriving and was renowned for its quality meats. Today it houses some sort of professional business office.
Aw that’s a shame, that the Seminole market is gone! It to was a full service market in its time and served a very large walking community, remembering in the early fifites nobody had that new fangled home thing…an electric refridgerator, everybody had ice boxes, so shopping was part of your daily life and meeting your neighbours and interacting with them.
Chris, Google Maps would be great for doing something like you suggested.
BTW, for anyone who’s checking, WE Speak is back up and running. It was hacked sometime between when I left Windsor yesterday and this morning.
David, I disagree that it’s the businesses responsibity to advertise.
I think its the responsibility of every citizen of Windsor who doesn’t want to have Home Depot and WalMart as their only shopping options to get off the beaten path, and explore our city. Look at the small shops we have, park your cars, and walk into these places and see what they have to offer. I lived in my house for six years before I finally “got around” to going into La Stella. With the price of gas these days, I’m more than happy to hunt out the local shops.
Take some initiative of your own, don’t rely on advertising to tell you what to do, or you’ll miss out on some great gems.
Just to echo Rich’s statement – I was by Potomski’s this afternoon and the store does appear to be vacant.
Thanks for posting this. I just paid a visit today – and I know where I’m buying my Parmigiano-Reggiano from now on!
Amy – Good to hear. Yes some items are cheaper elsewhere, but the selection and knowledge of the staff can’t be beat.
Isn’t there/wasn’t there a small supermarket just west of Parent north of Tecumseh? On Hannah maybe?
VP: Schincariol Market. Been shuttered for a few years now.
FYI – Potomski’s is now closed……
We must change the conversation and develop a symbiotic relationship with these smaller, independant retailers if we are to take back control of our community. We all want the same thing, don’t we? Earn a living wage while providing a service for our neighbours that they value enough to spend their hard-earned dollars for. And we the citizen consumer really need to have these service providers close by in our neighbourhoods for ease of access and to simplify our lives.
In other words, Andrew I agree with you.
ahhhhh schincariol market. i used to live kiddie corner from there for most of my life, my mom was a butcher there lol. was a great place, nice meat and prices to match.
I agree with Andrew also but (you knew there had to be one, didn’t you?) the little market I visit damn well better have something I really need or can’t find anywhere else. Otherwise, it just becomes another 7-11.
Small markets (and by “market” I don’t mean the beer/soda pop/candy places) that survive around here do so because they cater to nitche markets. Out here in my little Pacific Northleft city, we have some really good Mexican markets, but also an Eastern European shop, and two or three “gormet” style deli’s. They draw my business because they carry products that the local chain doesn’t.
The problem I have with the “shop local” idea is unless I really need that gallon of milk, I’m not going to go to the corner grocery and pay his price. I WILL support locally owned businesses when the quality, selection and service are superior to the national chain. The little store gets my business when it either offers superior service (my local hardware store beats the box hands down on this one) or a product that the chain either can’t or won’t carry.
Let’s use the resturant analogy. You’re out looking for a good steak, you go to McDonalds? Of course not, you go to someplace that you know will cook you a good hunk of meat just the way you like it. And you’re willing to pay for it. But when you’re looking for a cheap burger to get you down the road, Mickey D’s is the place.
See, I look at it this way… I don’t mind buying that gallon of milk for 25 or 50 cents more, even if I can find it slightly cheaper at the major chain store or supercentre, because if I keep getting in the car and driving past the local grocer to save nickels and dimes on staple goods at the sprawlmart, one day when I really need him that grocer isn’t going to be there anymore. Then, like Andrew says, our shopping options will be limited to the national chains. Then it’ll be a case of Gas up the Minivan, drive out to the Supercentre, get in line with the lemmings, and don’t forget your quarter for a shopping cart out in the corral. 🙁
Aaron – the same nice people who ran Schincariol opened a specialty deli/gourmet type shop on Cabana called La Cantina. It’s off the beaten path for me though. But I do miss the days when we could pick up our groceries at Schincariol Market on Hanna. We lived just a few streets over on the other side of Tecumseh while it was still operating. They had a freezer full of special homemade dinners that were really helpful for those days when we didn’t want to cook something from scratch. We could get our meat and produce there as well.
There is a great polish market at the end of Ottawa St. on Walker Rd that is very good. Interesting to note that so many fo these fine markets are in areas that have decent middle-income neighbourhoods. Is it any wonder there isn’t one in the downtown area? Hello urban village, will you please come to fruition sometime soon?
La Cantina…..i think i’ve seen it before. i’ll have to stop in for sure now. thanks john!
LOCAL MARKET – just an update……seen some guys doing work at the schincariol market.
looks like some kind of reno going on because with the door open, i seen a wall that was just drywall that was never there before. i think there was an electricians van and some other contractor,.possibly a plumber.
….thought you guys n gals would like the idea of a neighbourhood market possibly re-opening it’s doors. never a bad thing!