Visitors can take a trip to the magnificent Italian island of Sicily without ever leaving New Jersey with a trip to Sicilia Mia. This quaint and welcoming Italian specialty shop, located at 4 South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair, offers authentic imported Sicilian goods and artisanal, handcrafted products. Read on to learn more about this cozy and colorful specialty shop in the heart of downtown Montclair.
The Vibe
From the moment you walk into this vibrant store, you’ll be mesmerized by the wide assortment of colorful, hand-painted bottles of family pressed olive oils and imported Italian goods like pesto, pasta, specialty cheeses, meats, sauce, and bruschetta. But what really sets this shop apart is the authentic, extra virgin olive oil.
The oil is family-made from the volcanic soil farms near Mount Etna, on the east coast of Sicily. Each bottle is hand-painted by Sicilian artists to showcase various Sicilian art and landscapes.
For those looking for a unique, memorable gift for a housewarming, co-worker, or friend, Sicilia Mia offers gift baskets with the option to custom design the olive oil bottles.
While in the store, shoppers can’t miss the sweet, delicious smells from the kitchen as the team also makes fresh cannoli, pies, panettone, and arancini. A local favorite is the delicious pistachio sweet cream, an absolute must-try. After all that sweetness you may need a pick-me-up and lucky for you, Sicilia Mia offers a full barista bar with Sicilian coffee and espresso.
Read More: Café Giotto: an Authentic Italian Experience in Montclair
The Owners
Owners Caterina Russo and Rosa Messina opened the shop in September of 2020. The idea came to life one year before they actually opened their doors on South Fullerton. Their shared Sicilian roots run deep. Rosa’s journey began with her family’s ultra-premium olive oil business, Fior D’Olivo which was established in the 1900s in Italy. It has now expanded into an impressive collection of artisanal Sicilian products and designs.
Caterina, who was born in Sicily and immigrated to the United States in 1989, was brought up in a household with deep culinary Sicilian roots and became well-versed on the island’s terrain and history.
Caterina and Rosa realized their joint passion for Sicilian food and culture and thus it became their mission to find the most authentic ingredients the Mediterranean has to offer and bring some great examples of Sicilian cuisine and art to Montclair.
See More: A List of Must-Try Pasta Spots in the Montclair Area
The Neighborhood
“Montclair is an artistic destination in North Jersey”, says Caterina. “We knew that our beautiful painted bottles and colorful decor would be appreciated. The town is accessible from New York and one can spend all day walking around the town and visiting all of the wonderful stores and restaurants. There is always something going on in the town whether it be events, shows, or competitions. It’s never a boring day in Montclair.” She continued.
“We love meeting all of the interesting Montclair locals and their pups. We enjoy teaching everyone that stops in about Sicilian food and culture. Also, the Montclair community does an excellent job of supporting small local businesses. We are proud to be a part of such a great town.”
Keep up with the latest from Sicilia Mia including in-store events on the store’s social media pages on Instagram and Facebook.
