New Holmdel Italian Specialty Store Sets Grand Opening Date

HOLMDEL, NJ - Calling all Holmdel-area Italian cuisine lovers.

Il Mercato, the area’s latest Italian specialty store, is slated to open on June 30, complete with a second grand opening celebration, according to a Facebook post from its owners.

From 4 to 6 p.m., the new market at 37 Main St. will be offering free tastings of Italian specialties to the tune of a live DJ. The store held an initial grand opening on May 22, according to social media.

Il Mercato stands at the former site of Cracked Olive Market, which closed in February 2022 due to the rising costs of goods, labor shortages and supply chain issues.

The new store offers bagels, breakfast wraps, parm heroes, reubens, spicy grilled chicken subs and cold deli sandwiches, as well as an array of salads. You can view Il Mercato’s daily menu here.

The site is also slated to offer catering, featuring charcuterie boards, heroes, lunches, salads, app platters, sides, gourmet wraps and more.

Il Mercato’s grand opening cements the new store onto the roster of a string of other Italian grocers in the area: Livoti’s Old World Market in Middletown, Keyport Italian Mini Market in Keyport and Aleo Italian Specialties in Lincroft, to name a few.
Long Island-based Italian specialty grocer Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace also opened its doors in Tinton Falls this spring.