A look inside Di Bruno Bros.’ huge food store in Wayne
It's the company's second Main Line location and is set up around a wine bar, a coffee bar, and various counters.
Wayne is a long way from the Italian Market, you might say.
Specialty-food retailer Di Bruno Bros., founded in South Philadelphia in 1939, will open its sixth location on Friday, March 19. And while the original location is still a storefront on Ninth Street, this new market stretches over 8,000 square feet at 385 W. Lancaster Ave., next to the Lancaster County Farmers Market in Strafford Shopping Center. (Di Bruno’s apparently has a thing for farmers markets; it opened in Ardmore Farmers Market at Suburban Square in 2011.)
Like the other Di Brunos locations, it has a sunny, bright European feel. It’s set up around various bars and counters. The store has a full liquor license, so it’s also a bottle shop.
Corporate culinary director Ashley James oversees the prepared foods. There’s Bar Alimentari, a mini-version of the restaurant that Di Bruno’s opened two years ago on the second floor of its store at 18th and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia. It has a 20-foot circular bar that will sell small plates of cheese, charcuterie, and antipasto, and wine. A second 20-foot bar with an open kitchen will serve Roman-style pizza and snacks; it will double as an area for cooking classes and demonstrations.
There also is a full-service coffee bar, a collab with Seattle-based Caffè Umbria, with parfaits, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches, plus counters for rotisserie meats and sandwiches; salumi and seafood; and desserts.
Later this spring, outside seating and dining will be available. A gelato cart is planned to debut this summer. The cafe hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; the marketplace hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.