What: Mercato Di Grazia
Where: 245 Granby St., Norfolk, VA
Hours: Daily 10 a.m.-7 p.m. except Sunday
More Information: https://mercatodigrazia.com/
When stepping through the doors of Mercato Di Grazia, you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve been transported to a street corner deli in New York City or New Haven, Connecticut. That’s on purpose, says owner Tony Caruana.
“I always wanted to make a place where you get good sandwiches, good cold cuts, good Italian products and produce,” he says. “It’s where I grew up.”
Inside, shelves are lined with imported olive oils, pasta, sauces and Italian specialties. Behind the deli counter, paper-thin slices of mortadella and prosciutto are only carefully carved once you’ve ordered. The result of this thoughtful approach is a sandwich piled high with premium meats and cheeses sourced directly from Italy.
Part Deli, Part Market
Opened in November 2025, Mercato Di Grazia is a natural expansion for New Haven native Caruana, who also runs the kitchens at the highly acclaimed Luce (a Norfolk staple since 2013) and Luce Secondo in nearby Chesapeake. He’s also an Apple Top-100 podcaster who hosts Burnt Hands Perspective.
Busy? Yes, Caruana is busy, but that’s how he prefers it.
For Caruana, the market serves several purposes. Firstly, it fills the role of a premium storeroom housing elite ingredients to feed his restaurants, allowing him to bypass traditional middle-man markups. It’s also a gathering place for those who appreciate top-tier ingredients and the craftsmanship that goes into every sandwich, salad and pinsa (a flatbread similar to pizza). Every meat, cheese and pantry item has been carefully selected, with many products carrying regional protections and traditions dating back many generations in Italy.
Even first-time visitors don’t need to be experts in Italian cuisine to enjoy the experience.
“We give people samples. We let them taste things,” Caruana says. “We’ll explain where they’re from and what they are.”
Lines Out The Door
Mercato has quickly built a loyal following. On busy days, customers line up outside the door waiting for sandwiches stacked with imported meats, house-made specialties and freshly sliced deli favorites.
Caruana doesn’t play favorites with his sandwiches, but admits to being partial to anything with mortadella.
“When I was young, we ate that a lot,” he says. “Very thin, like paper. It melts in your mouth.”
In the market. customers can purchase meats and cheeses by the pound, pick up specialty ingredients for dinner at home or take home jars of Caruana’s own pasta sauces, made with all-natural ingredients and inspired by the same recipes served in his restaurants. Customers can choose from marinara, arrabbiata and puttanesca. Word is, a vodka sauce is coming soon, and when Tony Caruana tells us something is going to happen, it’s going to happen.
Most importantly, the market represents something he believes Norfolk and nearby cities need more of: independent businesses that create a sense of neighborhood and connection.
“Norfolk needs a lot more of this,” he says. “I think people are going to start coming back and trending toward supporting local.”
You might be stopping in for a sandwich or searching for the perfect olive oil or just looking for those Italian vibes. Either way, Mercato Di Grazia offers up a place where food, community and absolute respect for tradition live peacefully under one roof.
Tips for First-Timers
Hands down, the deli counter is the star of the show. Everything in Mercato Di Grazia is strictly curated, completely authentic and regionally recognized by law in Italy. From high-end Prosciutto di Parma to several distinct types of guanciale, everything is sliced exactly to your liking, whether that’s thick, thin, cubed or blocked.
And don’t stress if it’s your first time. Caruana’s staff is deeply educated on regional origins and always ready to hand over a sample so you can taste the difference between a Genoa salami and a traditional soppressata.
Soon enough, you’ll be hooked.
Follow Mercato Di Grazia on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mercatodigrazia.
