More than 60 kinds of stuffed pasta sit in one family’s freezers, and every single one comes from their own kitchen. Ravioli, tortellini, cannelloni, pansotti, mezzaluna.
That’s a lot of little pasta pockets waiting for dinner.
The fillings run from cheese to chicken, beef, and seafood. Then there’s the house-made Italian sausage, the family-recipe sauces, and the cannoli.
I can’t imagine walking out with only what was on my list.
The story behind it is just as good. A couple opened this corner market in Missouri back in 1971, and their family still runs it today.
I love that the founder’s wife still greets shoppers from behind the register.
I believe the best food shops feel like a family kitchen with shelves.
A Corner Market That Started With A Simple Family Dream
June 1971 changed a St. Louis street corner for good. That’s when Salvatore and Theodora DiGregorio opened DiGregorio’s Italian Market on The Hill.
Most folks knew them as Sam and Dora. Their goal was easy to understand and hard to pull off: bring real Italian products to their new hometown.
Sam worked long hours to build the business from the ground up. He earned a strong reputation for honesty, integrity, and treating customers right.
Those values didn’t fade after Sam passed in 2000. Dora still greets shoppers from behind the register, which is a pretty wonderful detail for a store this beloved.
Three generations of the family have now carried the market forward. That kind of staying power is rare in the grocery world, where big chains seem to pop up everywhere.
Over more than 50 years, the shop grew from a neighborhood grocery into an award-winning market. It now draws local shoppers and out-of-town food lovers alike.
I like knowing the name on the sign belongs to real people. When you shop here, you’re buying from a family that has stood behind its products for decades.
That history makes every jar and package feel a little more personal. Not a bad thing to carry home with your groceries.
Those Freezers Are Basically A Stuffed Pasta Library
Sixty-plus varieties of stuffed pasta. Read that again, because it’s the reason many people make the trip.
The freezer section at DiGregorio’s Italian Market holds ravioli, tortellini, cannelloni, and plenty more. Everything is made in the family’s own kitchen, not shipped in from some faraway factory.
The shapes alone could fill a pasta vocabulary quiz. You’ll find cappelletti, jumbo ravioli, small ravioli, round ravioli, pansotti, and mezzaluna.
Fillings cover a wide range too. Cheese, chicken, beef, and seafood options mean picky eaters and adventurous cooks can both leave happy.
Here’s a smart move for planning ahead. Grab a few different kinds and stock your own freezer for busy weeknights.
Stuffed pasta cooks fast, which makes it a lifesaver after long days. Add a good sauce and dinner feels special with very little effort.
Try picking one shape you’ve never cooked before. Mezzaluna means half moon in Italian, and the name fits its cute folded look.
Honestly, the hardest part is choosing. Bringing a cooler is a clever idea, especially if you’re driving from elsewhere in Missouri.
Nobody wants a melted ravioli tragedy on the ride home.
Your Grill Will Be Thrilled About The Meat Counter
Sausage might be the quiet star of the whole store. The house-made Italian salsiccia is one of the market’s most famous products.
It sits at a full-service meat counter alongside hand-cut steaks and chicken. That’s old-school butcher service, which feels pretty special these days.
Then there’s the homemade spiedini. If you’re new to it, spiedini is a classic Italian dish of rolled and skewered meat.
St. Louis has a real love for this dish. Picking some up here takes the hard prep work off your plate.
Here’s a helpful tip for anyone cooking for a crowd. Ask the staff questions, since a full-service counter means real people ready to help.
Sausage works in so many meals. Toss it into pasta sauce, grill it for sandwiches, or slice it onto a homemade pizza.
Hand-cut steaks also make an easy weekend treat. Pair one with stuffed pasta from the freezer and you’ve built a full Italian dinner in one stop.
Meat lovers should plan carefully before leaving home. A cooler with ice packs keeps everything fresh, especially during hot Missouri summers.
Your future dinner guests will thank you for that bit of planning.
Sauces From The Family Recipe Box Make Dinner Easy
Family recipes don’t usually leave the family. At DiGregorio’s Italian Market, they come in jars you can take home.
The original sauces include red, white, seafood, and pizza varieties. Each one comes from recipes the DiGregorio family has kept close for years.
That lineup covers almost any pasta night. Red sauce loves ravioli, while white sauce pairs nicely with tortellini or cappelletti.
The seafood sauce opens up even more options. Match it with seafood-filled pasta from the freezer for a meal that feels fancy without much work.
Pizza sauce is perfect for family pizza night. Kids can pile on toppings while the adults pretend they aren’t eating the cheese straight from the bag.
The market also stocks frozen pizzas, meatballs, and microwavable lasagna and pasta dinners. Those are handy for nights when cooking feels like climbing a mountain.
A simple idea works great here. Build a small dinner kit with one pasta, one sauce, and one dessert.
Speaking of dessert, cannoli are on hand too. A crunchy shell with sweet filling is a fine way to end any homemade feast.
Your kitchen just got a whole lot more Italian.
Olive Fans And Cheese Lovers Should Head Straight To The Deli
Olives get serious attention at this deli. The selection sits right beside fine imported and domestic meats and specialty cheeses.
Brands like Boar’s Head, Volpi, and Stella fill the case. Volpi is a well-known St. Louis name in cured meats, so seeing it here feels right at home.
A deli counter like this makes party planning simple. Pick a few meats, a couple of cheeses, and some olives for a quick antipasto platter.
Not sure what to choose? Ask the folks behind the counter for help, since that’s exactly what they’re there for.
The deli also makes fresh sandwiches. That makes it a smart stop if hunger hits halfway through your shopping.
Fresh breads add another good reason to linger. A crusty loaf with sliced meats and cheese might be the easiest lunch around.
Here’s a practical tip for picnic fans. Forest Park isn’t far from The Hill, and a deli haul travels well.
Cheese lovers should also check for imported Parmesan. Freshly grated on pasta, it makes even a weeknight bowl taste special.
One visit and your snack standards may never recover.
Aisles Packed With Imports Feel Like A Trip Abroad
Forty-five different shapes, cuts, and flavors of artisanal pasta line the shelves. Gluten-free options are part of that mix too.
So dry pasta shoppers get plenty of choices beyond the frozen stuff. You could cook a different shape every week for most of a year.
The olive oil and balsamic vinegar section is a big one. Both imported and domestic bottles fill the shelves, giving home cooks lots to explore.
Italian tomatoes are stocked as well. Good tomatoes make a huge difference when you’re simmering sauce from scratch.
Bakers and pizza makers have reasons to visit too. Specialty flours for homemade pizza dough are among the shop’s helpful finds.
The market also carries kitchenware and aprons. That’s handy if your old apron has more sauce stains than fabric left.
Italian soft drinks round out the shelves. They make a fun treat for kids and grown-ups alike.
Here’s a friendly shopping strategy. Make a list, then leave a little room for one surprise item you’ve never tried.
That’s how great new family favorites get discovered. Missouri kitchens could use a few more imported treasures anyway.
A Building With A Surprising Nightclub Past
Long before ravioli filled the freezers, music may have filled the air. The building once housed a popular nightclub called Savoy Gardens.
Back in the 1920s, a small theater stood on its south side. That’s quite a glow-up from dance floor to delicious dinner supplies.
I love buildings that have lived more than one life. They carry stories you’d never guess from simply driving past.
Today the space feels like a small Italian village market. It’s cozy, friendly, and focused on family rather than flash.
That shift tells you something about The Hill. The neighborhood keeps its history alive while giving old places fresh purpose.
Next time you’re browsing pasta shapes, think about the folks who once gathered there for an evening out. Different decade, same love of good times.
History fans might enjoy researching The Hill before visiting. The neighborhood has deep roots, and this building is one small piece of the puzzle.
Sharing that fun fact with friends is an easy way to sound smart at dinner. Just maybe wait until after everyone has their plate of tortellini.
Nobody likes a history lesson on an empty stomach.
The Hill Makes Every Shopping Trip Feel Like A Neighborhood Stroll
The Hill is St. Louis’s historic Italian neighborhood, and it’s often compared to an Italian village. That makes it a perfect setting for a family market.
You’ll find DiGregorio’s Italian Market at 5200 Daggett Avenue, St. Louis, MO. It sits right in the heart of this famously food-loving community.
The neighborhood is known for its red, white, and green fire hydrants. Spotting them is a fun game for kids during the drive in.
Parking is mostly on the street. Give yourself a few extra minutes, especially on busy weekend shopping days.
Plan to make a little outing of it. The Hill is packed with Italian restaurants, bakeries, and shops worth exploring.
Many visitors from around Missouri and beyond add this market to their St. Louis must-see list. It’s easy to see why once you look at the neighborhood’s charm.
Walking a few blocks helps you soak up the area’s character. Brick homes and family businesses give it a warm, small-town feel inside a big city.
Bring comfortable shoes and an empty trunk. You’ll need room for groceries and maybe a souvenir apron.
Plan Your Visit So Nothing Good Gets Left Behind
Timing matters when a store closes before dinner. DiGregorio’s Italian Market opens Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 5:30 PM.
It’s closed on Sundays. So that last-minute Sunday lasagna craving needs a backup plan, or better yet, a well-stocked freezer.
Morning trips are a smart choice. You’ll have plenty of time to browse without rushing past the good stuff.
Bring a cooler if you’re traveling any distance. Frozen pasta, sausage, and deli meats all appreciate staying cold.
A loose game plan helps too. Start with the freezer section, swing by the meat counter, then finish at the deli.
The family-style atmosphere is part of the fun. The store sometimes hosts tastings, which add even more charm to a visit.
Friendly staff can point you toward new favorites. Asking for a recommendation is never a bad idea in a shop built on customer service.
Give yourself a budget, then expect to bend it slightly. Fresh bread and cookies have a sneaky habit of joining the cart.
Fifty-plus years in, this family market still makes good food feel personal. That’s a tradition worth showing up for.
