The new Ambrosi & Sons retail store in North Naples provides patrons the opportunity to taste, learn and discover products rarely found in traditional shops. The local destination in the Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt curates authentic, artisanal food and wine sourced from small, family-owned producers across Italy.
Owner Rudy Ambrosi finds personal satisfaction in interacting with guests who are interested in sharing some boutique wine, a cultural experience and information about their Italian family connections.
“There are a lot of people who come in who are of Italian heritage but they don’t really fully understand certain things about it,” he said. “It’s rewarding to talk to people about the culture and history. I think people like learning a little bit more about their roots.”
Rudy Ambrosi recently relocated his Italian imports shop and wine bar to the Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt in North Naples.
Therese McDevitt
Ambrosi is a first generation American from parents born in Italy. His father is from northern Italy, where his family had a five-generation, knife-sharpening business in Trentino, while his mother is from a little island off the large island of Sardinia. “We still have our family houses going back like 300 years,” he said.
The Ambrosi family’s deep connection to those regions serves as a foundation for the brand, but the store celebrates Italian heritage from throughout the European nation.
“People are from different regions, so I try to represent all regions of Italy as far as wine goes and product goes because every area has something that they’re kind of famous for. They’re famous for this cookie, they’re famous for this pasta, they’re famous for this cracker, they’re famous for this kind of wine, and so on and so on,” Ambrosi said. “So, whenever a person comes in from a particular region, we have something that we can talk about with them. There’s always something from some area to talk about. Italians are very prideful about their area.”
Ambrosi & Sons Italian imports shop recently opened in the Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt at 2343 Vanderbilt Beach Road, units 602 & 604, in North Naples.
Tim Aten
So, the sharing of personal information is as enjoyable as the unique wine, olive oil and food products.
“There’s a story behind all the products that you don’t usually get in a regular store,” Ambrosi said. “What’s so particular about this pasta? What’s so particular about this product, this cookie, this wine? Whatever it is there’s a story behind it.”
The local business started years ago when Ambrosi had some retail space in the front of the East Naples building where he had a restaurant supply company. He began carrying products there imported from Italy and he just expanded on it.
“We just did it because it was a fun project,” he said. “Food and wine and Italy has always been part of our life. I spent every summer growing up in Italy, and even when I had kids and an Italian wife we still went to Italy every summer.”
During those trips, Ambrosi discovered and connected with artisanal producers who made particular products not available in major stores worldwide. These exclusive wines, olive oils, pastas and sauces made in small batches are what makes Ambrosi & Sons unique.
Ambrosi & Sons in North Naples features wine and food items imported from Italy.
Tim Aten
“If you look up the pasta that I have, Rustichella d’Abruzzo, it’s known as one of the best pastas, the very, very top Rolls-Royce of pasta. You’ll never find it in a big store because they don’t make enough of it,” Ambrosi said. “To make industrial pasta, you have to heat it. To make artisanal pasta, you let it dry at room temperature and it takes two or three days, so big industrial companies don’t want to wait two or three days to let a pasta dry. Everything that’s commercial and industrial is fast; everything that’s artisanal and great is slow. That’s just two polar opposites in philosophies.”
For instance, olive oils he stocks are grown and bottled at the same location in Italy. “With this kind of process, you can’t scale something like that,” he said.
Ambrosi & Sons in North Naples features wine and food items imported from Italy.
Tim Aten
Even the few products he carries that are not imported from Italy have a direct connection to Italy. “For example, I have a Brooklyn bread,” Ambrosi said. “Obviously, the people are immigrants and they make bread with the Italian recipe and they use Italian flour. So, the ingredients come from Italy and they’re made here. Same thing with the ravioli.”
Ambrosi & Sons eventually plans to expand its offerings to include house-made items such as fresh pasta and prepared foods, as well as more grab-and-go selections. A wine club also will be available soon offering exclusive, rare, limited-production wines through two membership tiers, Nobile and Superiore – Italian for Noble and Superior – with seasonal releases in the spring and fall.
Ambrosi & Sons in North Naples features wine and food items imported from Italy.
Tim Aten
Its wine bar offers a rotating selection of nearly 20 Italian wines by the glass. Guests can enjoy tasting pours or full glasses of wine from select vineyards.
Ambrosi & Sons’ store is in the former location of Naples Wine Collection, operated by the Dixon family. The adjoining large space that was formerly The Cave Bistro & Wine Bar will be used as a wine-tasting venue and a multifaceted event space that has been renamed The Grotto – meaning The Cave in Italian. “I want to leave it open to being creative,” Ambrosi said.
Ambrosi & Sons, 2343 Vanderbilt Beach Road, units 602 & 604, is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, and closed Sundays. For more information, go to ambrosiandsons.com.
Dining and Cooking