Home Food + DrinkCoffee Carrello Di Cannoli Soft Opens ‘The Cannoli Shop’ in Fairfield

Carrello Di Cannoli Soft Opens ‘The Cannoli Shop’ in Fairfield

by Via Rutkowski
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There’s nothing more New Jersey than a good cannoli. Whether you’re Italian or not, living in New Jersey means that Italian desserts and pastries have a special place in all of our hearts. Carrello Di Cannoli, a mobile cannoli service, has officially launched a brick-and-mortar experience called The Cannoli Shop at 376 Hollywood Avenue in Fairfield, New Jersey — which according to the United States Census Bureau is the most Italian town in America. 50.3% of residents in Fairfield are linked to Italian ancestry. This luxury dessert service specializes in customized hand-piped cannolis designed for weddings, holiday parties, corporate events, or just to enjoy around the dinner table. Read on for more about Carrello Di Cannoli’s newest venture, The Cannoli Shop in Fairfield — which is now officially in its soft opening stages.

cannoli shop fairfield

Italian Traditions Run Deep

Nick D’Anna, aka #TheCannoliGuy, is a lifelong New Jerseyan. He was born in Livingston and moved to Fairfield about seven years ago. When we asked Nick why he chose to put down both personal and professional roots in Fairfield, he told The Montclair Girl “We have always loved Fairfield and the sense of community here. Plus, it’s the most Italian town in the country!”

cannoli shop fairfield

Nick’s Italian heritage is an extremely important part of his life, business, and overall values. His father, Antonio, came from Sicily to Paterson, New Jersey in 1955. Nick laughed with us saying “My dad was a Patterson Italian forever until he met my mom, a school teacher, in Livingston” and the rest is history. Nick described his father with honor saying that he was an extremely hard worker who spent several years working in the Garment District of New York City. Nick’s father taught him many things, but the importance of carrying on their beloved Italian traditions was paramount.

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One of these traditions was the importance of family and the treasured ritual of ending a meal with dessert and espresso; an Italian must on which Nick has built his business. When The Montclair Girl asked Nick “Why cannolis?” he replied “Cannolis have always been a staple in my house. We always had them on the table during holidays and special occasions. I grew up going to cafes with my dad and cannolis were always present.”

 


 

How It Started

While Nick can remember cannolis always being a part of his life, he could have never imagined the significance they would one day hold in his future business. Nick received his Bachelor’s degree in Business from Delaware Valley College. In 2012 he jumped right into a job in medical sales where he spent the next several years. On the side, Nick had been dreaming up a cannoli-inspired business that was originally set to start in 2020. But of course, the pandemic had other plans. Nick remembers March 10th, 2020, being a significant day of disappointment when he realized things weren’t going to work out as lockdown was days away from striking.

“I was crushed when it fell through. When I was really upset, my wife came to me and said ‘Let’s do a cannoli cart!’.” Nick shared that after a moment of clarity, they decided to take action and pivot the plans into something more pandemic-resistant. Nick jumped into action and began working on his mobile cannoli bar cart. Not only did Nick design a mobile cannoli bar cart, but a cannoli caddy as well, which is something that turns heads at every occasion. Nick began to showcase his unique displays at micro weddings and it soon developed into something much bigger. Soon, Carrello Di Cannoli was born and Nick became the go-to for cannoli service at weddings, parties, and events in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by THE CANNOLI GUY (@carrellodicannoli)

Fast forward to April 2024, and Nick’s cannoli business was still going strong as a side gig. But as fate would have it, another twist was waiting just around the corner, but this time with an exciting outcome. Nick was laid off from his medical sales role in early April of 2024 but the next day, he woke up to something special that turned things around. Nick had recently been working on a collaboration with Hoboken’s coffee shop and bakery The Hive to create the “Cannoli Rolli” which was a fusion of Carrello Di Cannoli’s classic cannoli and The Hive’s infamous cinnamon roll.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by THE CANNOLI GUY (@carrellodicannoli)

Besides an incredible turnout and a nearly viral Instagram giveaway, there was a particular piece of content that sent Carrello Di Cannoli to its next level of success. The special moment that turned Nick’s recent news around was a viral Instagram video of him handing out freshly piped cannolis from his self-made caddy to customers in line at The Hive in Hoboken as locals awaited their first taste of the “Cannoli Rolli”. The video racked up over 1.3 million views and shows Nick’s warmth and talents as he spreads joy throughout the multi-block line. Nick’s excitement was unmatched and this was his sign that it was all going to work out. He mentioned with gratitude how major this was for his business and ended our chat by saying “Now, I’m doing cannolis full time.” This is exactly why Nick is known as “The Cannoli Guy”. Now Carrello Di Cannoli has a team of 10 employees. Nick says his goal is to build a legacy for his family, give them a taste of Sicily and keep their Italian heritage alive.

About The Cannolis + The New Space

cannoli shop fairfield

Photo Credit: The Cannoli Shop

Developing The Cannoli Shop’s brick-and-mortar space has been a labor of love. Nick told MG back in October that he anticipated the opening of The Cannoli Shop to unfold within the next 30-60 days just in time for the holidays. Now, we know that The Cannoli Shop is officially in its soft opening stages in Fairfield as of January 2025 — the shop is currently open Tuesday through Friday from 7:30AM-4PM, and Saturday from 9AM-4PM.

cannoli shop fairfield

The team took to Instagram to share the news:

“While we are still fine-tuning everything, we couldn’t wait to start sharing the @thecannolishopnj with you!

For the next month, we’re offering a sneak peek at our space— and we’d love for you to be part of this special, early experience.

Come in, try a custom cannoli and our classic espresso beverages, and let us know what you think! Your feedback is everything as we fine-tune before the grand opening.

Please know that these hours are tentative and subject to change. We plan to eventually open on Sundays and add evening hours in the future.

A BIG thank you to all of those who came out to support us this weekend! We truly appreciate all of the love ❤️”

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by The Cannoli Shop (@thecannolishopnj)

 

The location on Hollywood Avenue in Fairfield is an expansion of the existing quality and values at Carrello Di Cannoli. Nick said newcomers can expect cannoli-based desserts and a cannoli bar where customers can personalize cannolis to their liking with different shells, creams, and toppings. The espresso bar is also a major piece of The Cannoli Shop’s experience. The cannoli ingredients and espresso are flown in fresh from Sicily each week to uphold the quality and five-star reputation of these tasty treats. The quality of each bite is rooted in heartfelt tradition, straight from the source.

cannoli shop fairfield

Photo Credit: The Cannoli Shop

Nick also previously shared that one of the most important things about The Cannoli Shop is that there are no cannolis visible. This is for freshness. Nick said “We will not be letting cannolis sit in a cake or get soggy.” meaning each cannoli is made to order and completely customizable with only the freshest ingredients. Nick shared with us that though they are made to order, the team moves fast. “We’ve done 100 cannolis in 20 minutes!” he said.

cannoli shop fairfield

Nick hopes that customers will see The Cannoli Shop as a place to savor and enjoy. The store is also a kid-friendly environment great for families, allowing caregivers to sit and sip while little ones play and remain entertained. Nick mentioned that he wants customers to be transported into a “modern Italy” and noted that bringing the community together is so important during these times. The interior of The Cannoli Shop is a modern take on a classic Italian look with lots of family photos and black and white accents. Nick even shared that local artist, Chad Fandel was working on a hand-painted 41-foot mural inside the shop. “It’s going to be a spectacle,” Nick said and hinted at some famous faces that are incorporated into the Insta-worthy design.

cannoli shop fairfield

Photo Credit: The Cannoli Shop

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Fun fact: Nick’s family roots really do run deep. He shared with MG that his wife, Teresa D’Anna, also runs a wedding-related business of their own called Creationari which operates right upstairs. Creationari specializes in wedding stationery and graphic-related decor and is run by a sister/best friend trio. The Cannoli Shop will be a one-stop-shop for wedding planners and married couples to be.

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