This Michigan Italian Market Is Loaded With Imported Foods You Won’t Find At Most Grocery Stores

The owners fly to Italy to bring back foods you can’t buy anywhere else in the country. Not anywhere else in their city. Anywhere else in the U.S.

The store holds more than 10,000 products across 55,000 square feet. That makes it the largest Italian market in Michigan. There’s even a curing room downstairs where some of the best cheeses age quietly.

I love that a grocery run here can turn into a full afternoon. You can grab fresh pasta, browse over 400 cheeses, and still save room for cannoli. The bakery’s cannoli once earned a mention in People Magazine, which is a lot of fame for a pastry.

I’d probably start at the bakery and work my way backward. But with this much to see, how do you even pick a first aisle?

A Family Recipe For Success That Started Back In 1967

Every big story starts small, and this one began with one man and one store. Mario Fallone opened the first location in Livonia, Michigan, in 1967.

His sons, John and Michael, run the business today. They now operate both the original Livonia market and Cantoro’s Italian Market – Plymouth.

The Plymouth store opened its doors in 2014. The family didn’t just copy and paste the old shop into a bigger building.

Instead, they looked to some famous markets in Italy for ideas. The design drew inspiration from markets in Rome, Venice, and Palermo.

That’s a pretty fun mood board for a grocery store. Most supermarkets take their cues from a parking lot and a shopping cart.

The family still travels to Mario’s birthplace in Italy on a regular basis. Those trips help them find foods that feel personal rather than mass-produced.

I appreciate a business that keeps its roots this close. It gives the whole place a sense of purpose beyond stocking shelves.

So when you pick up a jar or a package here, think about the journey behind it. More than half a century of family work went into that shelf.

Good Luck Seeing All 55,000 Square Feet In One Trip

Size matters when you’re hunting for something rare. Cantoro’s Italian Market – Plymouth covers 55,000 square feet, the largest Italian market in Michigan.

You’ll find it at 15550 N Haggerty Rd, Plymouth, MI 48170. Plan your visit with the clock in mind, since the market keeps different weekend hours.

Monday through Saturday, the doors open at 8 AM and close at 8 PM. Sundays run shorter, from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Inside, the store holds more than 10,000 carefully chosen products. That’s a lot of decisions for one shopping trip.

My advice is simple. Bring a list, then give yourself permission to ignore half of it.

The market splits into clear departments, which helps a lot. There’s a bakery, a cheese counter, a deli, a meat case, a pasta counter, and prepared foods.

Upstairs, a mezzanine overlooks the main floor. Downstairs sits a cellar space and a curing room for cheese.

Wear comfortable shoes and grab a cart early. Nobody wants to juggle bread, pasta, and gelato with two hands.

Your Pantry Is About To Get A Passport

Here’s the part that sets this market apart from your usual supermarket run. John and Michael Fallone travel to Italy to import many foods and ingredients directly.

Many of those items are exclusive to Cantoro in the U.S. That means the jar in your hand may not sit on any other American shelf.

Think about what that does for home cooking. A simple weeknight pasta suddenly gets ingredients picked by people who know the source.

The aisles carry a big range of imported goods. You’ll spot olive oils, canned sauces, dry pastas, and plenty more Italian staples.

Exploring these shelves feels a little like a scavenger hunt. You might come in for one thing and leave with three you’d never heard of.

I’d take a slow lap before grabbing anything. Reading labels here is half the fun.

Got a favorite product you tried on a trip to Italy? This is a smart place to start the search.

Your pantry might not need another olive oil. Then again, it might need this specific one.

Those Cannoli Made It Into People Magazine

Not many pastries get national press. The cannoli at Cantoro’s Italian Market – Plymouth earned a mention in People Magazine.

The bakery makes three handmade versions. You can pick Italian cream, Sicilian ricotta, or a chocolate shell.

Choosing just one feels unfair. I’d probably grab all three and call it research.

The bakery goes far beyond cannoli, too. Dozens of fresh, hard-crust breads fill the shelves.

Cookie fans can look for Amaretti and other Italian favorites. Seasonal Italian macarons show up as well.

Need something bigger for a party? The bakery offers cheesecakes, tortes, and custom celebration cakes.

A birthday cake from an Italian bakery just sounds more exciting. It turns a regular celebration into something a bit fancier.

Bread lovers should plan ahead for dinner. A crusty loaf next to homemade pasta is hard to beat.

Just don’t let the cannoli ride home in the back seat. Some treats are meant for the parking lot.

Over 400 Cheeses And A Room Where They Grow Up

Four hundred cheeses. That number alone should make any snack board builder sit up straight.

The cheese department carries Italian and world varieties. Sharp Parmigiano Reggiano from Italy shares space with Brie de Meaux from France.

English Farmhouse Cheddar and Swiss Gruyère join the lineup too. It’s basically a cheese passport stamped four times.

Now for the fun fact. A curing room on the lower level ages some of their top cheeses.

So some of the cheese is aging right under your feet. That’s a basement most homeowners would envy.

The deli sits nearby with everyday and hard-to-find meats. You’ll find Boar’s Head products, imported cold cuts, cured meats, and sausages.

Put the two counters together and a charcuterie board practically builds itself. Add some crusty bread from the bakery and you’re set.

My tip is to try something new each visit. With hundreds of choices, you could go a long time without repeating.

Your crackers deserve better than plain slices. Give them something with a story.

Fresh Pasta, Daily Sausage, And Dinner That Is Basically Done

Cooking Italian at home gets a lot easier with a shortcut this good. Cantoro makes the largest selection of fresh homemade pastas in metro Detroit.

The varieties draw inspiration from every region in Italy. Look for fresh spaghetti, mozzarella-stuffed shells, lasagnas, and gnocchi.

Over at the meat counter, sausages get made fresh every day. Choices include Italian, Breakfast, and Chicken varieties.

Fresh ground meats are prepared daily too. The case also carries USDA Choice beef from the Upper Midwest and Kansas.

Chicken comes from Bell and Evans, air-chilled and raised without antibiotics. That’s a nice detail for anyone who cares about sourcing.

Too tired to cook at all? The prepared foods section makes more than 50 Italian dishes daily.

You might find Eggplant Parmigiana, Polenta Gorgonzola, paninis, gourmet pizzas, and seasonal salads. Lasagnas and chicken dishes round things out.

Honestly, I can’t imagine leaving without something from that case. Future you will be grateful at dinnertime.

Fresh pasta plus homemade sausage makes a pretty strong weeknight plan.

Save Room For The Gelato Counter, Seriously

Some shopping trips need a reward at the end. The gelato counter at Cantoro’s Italian Market – Plymouth handles that job nicely.

It sits right inside the market. So you can treat yourself before the cold groceries go home.

I like the idea of gelato as a shopping strategy. A cone keeps everyone in the group happy while someone else studies cheese.

Kids especially might appreciate this stop. A long walk through 55,000 square feet can test anyone’s patience.

Gelato also pairs well with the rest of the store. Grab a sweet scoop after lunch, then pick up pastries for later.

Is it a little much to eat gelato and cannoli on the same visit? Maybe. But nobody is keeping score.

The market also has outdoor seating, which makes warm days extra pleasant. A scoop in the sunshine sounds like a smart plan.

If you’re bringing friends from out of town, make this a must. It’s an easy way to show off a sweet slice of Michigan.

Just pick your flavor fast. Indecision melts quicker than you think.

A Full Trattoria Hides On The West Side Of The Market

Fun fact about the original plan. The space was first meant to be a coffee shop.

Instead, the family added a full-service Trattoria on the western side of the market. That’s quite an upgrade from a latte stand.

The menu covers Mediterranean cooking, with Italian, Turkish, and Greek classics. Some dishes use fresh pasta and sauces made right in the market.

The tagliatelle bolognese is one of those dishes. It’s fun knowing the pasta traveled only a few steps to your plate.

Saltimbocca Alla Romana stands out as a signature entree. It’s veal tenderloin wrapped in fontina and prosciutto, topped with a sage demi-glace.

The room itself feels modern yet cozy. Two dining areas, wall-to-wall windows, and fireplaces set the mood.

You can also sit in the open market area or upstairs on the mezzanine. The upstairs view lets you look out over the shoppers below.

Lunch runs Tuesday through Saturday, and dinner follows on those days. Sunday has its own hours, and Mondays are closed.

Eat first, shop second. Hungry shoppers buy everything.

Party Planners, Pasta Machines, And A Cellar For Big Days

Shopping for a celebration? The mezzanine level has a housewares department stocked with Italian imports.

Look for pizzelle makers, pasta machines, espresso makers, cookware, and cutlery. Ceramic serving pieces and Italian souvenirs fill the shelves too.

Event planners get help here as well. The department offers invitations, Bomboniere party favors, floral centerpieces, and linen rentals.

Hosting at Cantoro’s Italian Market – Plymouth is another option. The upper-level Mezzanine fits large groups for graduation parties, fundraisers, and more.

In warmer months, that space can open to an outdoor patio. That’s a breezy bonus for summer gatherings.

The lower-level Cantina feels more intimate. It doubles as an old-world cellar and works for dinners, board meetings, and even wedding ceremonies.

Planning a party somewhere else? Full catering covers off-site events, and pre-ordered party trays are ready for pickup.

I appreciate how one stop can handle the food, decor, and favors. That’s a lot of errands crossed off at once.

Few places in Michigan can feed you, host you, and sell you a pasta machine on the way out.