And I thought Italian weddings were big. They don’t compare to the party La Bottega Nicastro hosted last night to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the beloved Ottawa fine food shop, located in the heart of the ByWard Market.

With guests mingling in practically every aisle and corner, it would have been understandable if co-owner Pat Nicastro — who was doing his best to greet everyone — had felt overwhelmed. But he didn’t.

“It’s like a typical Saturday,” he said with a smile.

An estimated 200 customers and friends of La Bottega Nicastro attended a 30th anniversary  held Thursday, May 22, 2025 for the Italian fine food shop and café, located in the ByWard Market. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Nicastro was in his early 20s and fresh out of Carleton University when, in May 1995, he opened his authentic Italian grocery store in the ByWard Market. He managed to take a fourth-year university project and turn it into a thriving family business.

La Bottega offers imported and specialty items from Italy, a cappuccino and espresso bar, homemade pasta and sauces, a deli and international cheeses, Italian sandwiches, and take-home meals.

Over the years, the small business has become a destination store, drawing customers from across the city. It’s not only grown to include catering services, and cooking and wine classes, it’s expanded its reach to add a location at the Ottawa airport. As well, it maintains a presence inside home furnishing retailer Home Société in the west end and in the upscale condo building Viu2 in Gatineau.

About 20 years ago, Nicastro took on a business partner — his younger cousin Rocco Jr. Nicastro.

The men joked that they were just kids when they started, a line everyone uses to shave a few years off. But, in their cases, it’s true. The owners have worked in the food industry for most of their lives, making them fifth-generation food merchants. They’ve followed in the footsteps of their fathers, Joe Nicastro and Rocco Sr. Nicastro, two brothers who, together, opened their first Italian food store on Gladstone Avenue in Ottawa’s Little Italy in 1972.

From left, Rocco Sr. Nicastro, Rocco Jr. Nicastro, Pat Nicastro and Joe Nicastro at the 30th anniversary of La Bottega Nicastro, a successful Italian fine food shop and café located in the ByWard Market. Photo by Caroline Phillips

During the cousins’ separate welcome remarks, they each coincidentally emphasized the exact same three ingredients behind La Bottega’s success: their family, employees and customers.

Customer loyalty should never be taken for granted, Rocco Jr. acknowledged. “It’s always been a choice, coming in here, and we don’t take that lightly.”

As for staff, La Bottega has employed roughly 1,000 people over the years . One constant has been Pat’s uncle, Giovanni “John” Adamo. He’s worked at the store since the beginning. Adamo oversees the extensive cheese department, proudly embracing his title of cheesemonger. While he may feel like a human fixture, Adamo is far more than that: he offers the familiarity and personal touch that keep customers coming back. And because we just had to ask, his favourite formaggio: Pecorino truffle, which is a luxurious Italian cheese made with sheep’s milk and needs to be aged for months.

In charge of the kitchen operations at La Bottega is chef and former Top Chef Canada winner Rene Rodriguez.

From left, Giovanni “John” Adamo, who’s been with La Bottega Nicastro since it opened in May 1995, and his brother, Frank Adamo, president and owner of Italfoods, at the 30-year anniversary party for the ByWard Market legacy business. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, MJ Naim Brown, Arlie Koyman, La Bottega Nicastro co-owner Pat Nicastro and Nadine Beaudin at the 30-year anniversary party for the Italian fine food shop and café, located in the ByWard Market. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Opening an Italian food store in the ByWard Market did raise eyebrows, Pat acknowledged during his remarks. It didn’t help that its neighbouring shops were shuttered at the time. “People were, like, ‘Are you crazy? What are you going to the ByWard Market for?’ ”

To this day, Pat has no regrets about that decision and has grown accustomed to hearing people voice their concerns about the district, whether it’s safety, economic challenges or ongoing revitalization efforts.

“We still believe in it, we’re still happy, we’re not going anywhere,” Pat told the crowd. “The Market is a great place.”

That three decades have passed was hard for Pat to believe.  “I don’t feel like it’s 30 years because I feel like we still have a lot more in us,” he said, before joking: “Well, maybe Rocco does.”

One of La Bottega’s first customers was well-known business leader Gary Zed, president and CEO of Canada’s Forest Trust. He was a government lawyer when he first started coming in, and became such a regular that he kept a running bill. “It became like a community gathering spot,” said Zed, describing the place as “a home away from home”.

Ottawa city councillor Stéphanie Plante (Rideau-Vanier) dropped in to offer her congratulations. Friends and customers included TAAG CEO Andrew Abraham,  Costco Wholesale Canada executive Gino Dorico,  commercial real estate lawyer Danny Fernandes, Fratelli Kanata restaurant owner Richard Valente, Kettlemans Bagels founder Craig Buckley, RÄNDĀ VO͞O founder Aaron McFarlane, and Main + Main Asset Management president Rick Iafelice, among others.

One of Pat’s closest friends is John Robinson, president and CEO of Intega IT. The pair is often seen together at charity and business events. One of the things that Robinson admires most about Pat is his interest in making time for others.

“Everybody he talks to, he has a minute for. He wants to hear what’s up, how you are,” said Robinson, who compared walking around with Pat to being with an elected official who’s constantly greeting the public. “I always joke with people, ‘Don’t forget to vote’.”

From left, John Robinson, president and CEO of Intega IT, was out to support his good friend, La Bottega Nicastro co-owner Pat Nicastro, during the 30-year anniversary party for his Italian fine food shop and café, located in the ByWard Market. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Ottawa city councillor Stéphanie Plante (Rideau-Vanier) with La Bottega Nicastro customers Linda Assad and Diane Reardon, right, at the 30th anniversary party, held on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

An estimated 200 customers and friends of La Bottega Nicastro attended a 30th anniversary party held Thursday, May 22, 2025 for the Italian fine food shop and café, located in the ByWard Market. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Rick Iafelice (Main + Main Asset Management) with Mamma Teresa Ristorante co-owner Frank Schimizzi at the 30th anniversary party held Thursday, May 22, 2025 for the Italian fine food shop and café La Bottega Nicastro, located in the ByWard Market. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, La Bottega Nicastro co-owner Rocco Jr. Nicastro with regular customer TAAG CEO and founder Andrew Abraham at the 30th anniversary party held Thursday, May 22, 2025 for the Italian fine food shop and café, located in the ByWard Market. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Pat Nicastro, co-owner of La Bottega Nicastro, and his partner, Talia Silvestri, regional manager of direct investing with TD Bank, at the 30th anniversary party held Thursday, May 22, 2025 for the Italian fine food shop and café, located in the ByWard Market. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Kettlemans Bagels founder Craig Buckley, Fratelli Kanata restaurant owner Richard Valente, and Maureen Buckley at the 30th anniversary party held Thursday, May 22, 2025 for the Italian fine food shop and café, located in the ByWard Market. Photo by Caroline Phillips

La Bottega Nicastro co-owner Pat Nicastro, far right, enjoyed a laugh with guests at the 30th anniversary party he co-hosted for theffor Italian fine food shop and café, located in the ByWard Market. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Canada’s Forest Trust CEO and founder Gary Zed — a long-time customer of La Bottega Nicastro — with friend and co-owner Pat Nicastro at the 30th anniversary party for the Italian fine food shop and café, located in the ByWard Market. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Gino Dorico, senior vice president with Costco Wholesale, Rick Iafelice, and La Bottega Nicastro co-owner Pat Nicastro at the 30th anniversary party held Thursday, May 22, 2025 for the Italian fine food shop and café, located in the ByWard Market. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Danny Fernandes, owner of Daniel Fernandes Law Office, and mortgage specialist Michel Boulay at the 30th anniversary party held Thursday, May 22, 2025 for La Bottega Nicastro, an Italian fine food shop and café located in the ByWard Market. Photo by Caroline Phillips

An estimated 200 customers and friends of La Bottega Nicastro attended a 30th anniversary party held Thursday, May 22, 2025 for the Italian fine food shop and café, located in the ByWard Market. Photo by Caroline Phillips

This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WCPD, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Infinity Convention Centre, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel and RBC.

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