The iconic Glorioso’s Italian Market on East Brady Street in Milwaukee is being sold to new family ownership out of Illinois.
Brothers Carmine and Domenico Presta of Valli Produce, a chain of grocery stores in the Chicago area, plan to purchase the 78-year-old Glorioso’s business, and its building located at 1011 E. Brady St., according to a license application submitted by Glorioso’s Fratelli LLC.
The acquisition will be made in October, according to a news release from Glorioso’s Thursday.
Valli Produce has locations in Loves Park, Rockford, Hoffman Estates and Evanston. The grocer was founded in 1977 by Alfredo Presta; his sons Carmine and Domenico are among several second-generation family members involved in the business. The Prestas did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Glorioso’s has a long family history of its own. Its forthcoming sale, which was first reported and detailed further by Urban Milwaukee, marks the end of nearly eight decades of Glorioso family ownership, starting with brothers Teddy, Eddie and Joe Glorioso, who founded the business in 1946. Today, Teddy’s son, Michael, is the store’s general manager.
“It is important to us to keep the feel and rich history of Glorioso’s and pass it to the next generation,” said owner Teddy Glorioso in a statement. “The decision to transition the business to Glorioso’s Fratelli LLC was based on their 47-year history running specialty stores and reputation as a well-run family business. This will ensure that our legacy continues to thrive, and customers will continue to enjoy the same high level of service, quality and variety of Italian products they have come to expect for many years to come. Nothing will be changing; everything will remain the same.”
Carmine Presta told Urban Milwaukee that the plan for Glorioso’s is to “keep everything the same.” That includes the market’s staff and longtime chef Darin Wisniewski, who will oversee the market’s day-to-day operations, according to the license application.
“We are excited for the brand to begin a new chapter that gives the flexibility to expand Glorioso’s Italian Market outside of Milwaukee,” said Michael Glorioso in a statement.
In addition to the market’s main storefront — known for its selection of Italian specialty products, fresh produce, wine, cheese and meats as well as made-to-order deli fare — the business operates Glorioso’s Appetito & Sage Harvest, which offers cooking classes and event rentals. The concept opened in 2019 in the historic Brady Street building that first housed the family-owned market when it opened in 1946, until 2010, when it expanded into its current location across the street.
Appetito & Sage Harvest will be turned over to chef Michael Solovey, founder of Sage Harvest Cooking School. Solovey has served as chef manager and cooking school director for Appetito & Sage Harvest since 2022. He will assume full ownership of the business and lease the building from the Glorioso family, according to the release.
The family ownership and history of Glorioso’s was the subject of the 2011 BizTimes Milwaukee cover story.
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