Trinacria Cafe to open in Mount Vernon

The owner of Trinacria, the 105-year old Italian grocery store and deli on Paca Street, will open a cafe in Mount Vernon.

Vince Fava, whose grandfather founded Trinacria as a macaroni works in 1908, said he has signed a lease to open Trinacria Cafe in a ground-level retail space in Gallery Tower, an apartment building on the corner of Centre Street and Park Avenue. A take-out restaurant named Bdelight recently closed in the space, which has also housed a delicatessen and a Five Guys Burgers and Fries franchise.

Fava said Trinacria Cafe will feature the sandwiches, pastas and Italian dishes that have become an increasing focus of the family business since he took it over.

Fava said he plans to have the cafe open by Jan. 1. The biggest challenge, Fava said, will be making the modern space feel warm and intimate. And while he won't be bringing in the grocery items and inexpensive wines that have made Trinacria a popular Saturday morning shopping destination for generations of Baltimore, he is hoping to offer patrons some of the meats, cheeses and prepared items that they shop for at Trinacria.

Trinacria Cafe won't have a liquor license when it opens, but Fava said he is planning to acquire a license to serve beer and wine on premises.