‘A cool mix of what you need and want’: Vitori’s Market opened Friday

Located across the hall from Gracie’s restaurant in the Torchlight Pass building at 1131 Central Ave., the market sells grocery store staples, such as fresh meat and poultry, bread, pastries, deli, dairy items, pasta, chips, crackers, cereal and beverages. It also features to-go menu items from Gracie’s, including ham salad, pimiento cheese, mac and cheese, ribs and other favorites, Vitori said.

Also offered at Vitori’s Market are the products of local vendors and artisans, fresh eggs from Organic Gardens by Meg, Amatulli Produce, Tina’s Sweet Treats (a gluten-free bakery), kimchi from Angie Tee’s Kitchen, Amish items.

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This isn’t the first Vitori’s Market in Middletown. Vitori’s grandparents, Nick and Gracie Vitori, owned a grocery store by the same name, one started by her great-grandfather. It lasted 80 years until 2007, but because her grandmother worked upfront “everyone called it ‘Gracie’s,’” Vitori said.

Gracie’s, the restaurant, is named in honor of her.

The new the 800-square-foot market already has elicited a flood of memories from customers of the original.

“People (say) ‘I used to live on the corner’ (or) ‘I used to live down the street’ or ‘my parents used to go all the time,’ so it’s been really nice and there’s been so much good response from people on Facebook telling stories,” she said.

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Vitori’s Market is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Owners prefer customers wear masks.

In its temporary carry-out-only phase, Gracie’s will offer chicken marsala in either “Family Style” or “Date Night for Two” sizes, along with mashed potatoes, Caesar salad and bread for a main course. Crispy pimiento cheese balls is available as a starter and Chocolate Bailey’s Cheesecake may be ordered for dessert.

Drinks will include assorted beers, wines and non-alcoholic beverages.

Curbside pick up and delivery at Gracie's runs from 4:30 until 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday with online ordering available at www.graciesmiddletown.com.

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Vitori’s Market’s first day in business generated dozens of in-person orders and several online purchases, Vitori said.

“Anything that’s here is available online, so you can order online and pick it up,” she said. “We’ll bring it out to you or we can actually deliver during our window of delivery for food at Gracie’s.”