Salvino is a family-run delicatessen and wine shop on the edges of Kentish Town. Opened in 1981, we spoke to owner Antonio about the business and its role in the community. “We are actually one of the oldest serving businesses on Brecknock Road, we’ve been here 42 years and are quite well established in the Camden area,” he says.
Local shops like Salvino are often a lifeline for locals, providing some interaction and a personal touch. For Antonio, who has been working in the shop since he was 18, his local customers are almost an extension of family. “Over the years, we’ve seen two, maybe three generations of customers,” he says. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the store became even more important to local residents, but as soon as they could, Salvino carried on serving customers, even distributing coffees in the queue.
“It’s almost like an institution in this street.”
Suresh, Salvino customer
Longstanding customer Suresh has been coming to Salvino since 2003. “You’ve got a good range of products and the quality of the food is very good,” he says. As well as the range of Italian produce, he cites the “friendly and positive” service as one of the other reasons he keeps coming back. “It’s almost like an institution in this street,” he says.
