Somewhere in Greensboro, there is a small shop that makes the olive oil aisle at your usual supermarket look a little lonely. People drive in from Raleigh, Clemmons, and beyond just to fill a bag with imported goods and house-made favorites.
It is family run, packed with Italian products that are hard to find nearby, and only open five days a week, so timing matters. Keep reading to learn where it is, what makes it special, and how to plan a trip that is worth the drive.
A Little Italy on New Garden Road
Greensboro has its share of grocery stores, but only one of them makes shoppers rethink every bottle of olive oil in their pantry.
Giacomo’s Italian Market sits at 2109 New Garden Rd, Greensboro, NC 27410, in the northwest part of the city. It is an Italian grocery store at heart, with a busy deli counter and shelves full of imported goods.
The location is easy to reach for anyone in the Piedmont Triad. New Garden Road is a familiar route for locals, and the shop is close enough to other errands that a stop here can turn into a regular habit.
Do not expect a giant warehouse. The market is compact and personal, which is part of its appeal.
Inside, the focus is on Italian specialties, from oils and pastas to meats and cheeses, plus a menu of made-to-order sandwiches that keeps the counter humming. Shoppers come for one item and often leave with a full bag.
It holds a 4.8-star standing from more than a thousand people, which is a rare number for any small shop.
For North Carolinians hunting a nearby outing with real character, this address belongs on the list, and the story behind it only gets better.
The Family Behind the Counter
Some shops feel like businesses. Others feel like someone’s kitchen that happens to have a cash register.
Giacomo’s lands firmly in the second group. It is a small, family run Italian deli, and that identity shapes almost everything about the experience.
The staff is often described as friendly and quick to greet people as they come through the door. Many longtime regulars mention that the team treats first-timers and familiar faces with the same welcome.
The owners also stay engaged with their community. When a guest once suggested that a place to sit would help, the shop added a table outside for dining when the weather cooperates.
That kind of responsiveness may not sound dramatic, but it matters in a small operation.
Plenty of shoppers have been coming for years. One longtime regular has made close to 30 or 40 trips over a decade, and others count five years or more of steady visits.
The goal, as the owners put it, is to provide flavors similar to back home for people who grew up near Italian delis up north. That mission explains the loyal crowd, and it sets the stage for the shelves themselves.
Olive Oil Worth the Headline
Here is where the title earns its keep. The shelves at Giacomo’s are well stocked with great olive oils, and seeing them side by side can make a standard supermarket bottle look a bit underdressed.
The selection leans imported and specialty, the kind of lineup that is hard to track down elsewhere in the Triad.
Home cooks tend to appreciate the variety. Rather than one or two generic choices, there are options that encourage a little browsing and comparison.
The shop’s own house oil and vinegar also gets plenty of praise on its sandwiches. Some fans wish for an extra splash every time.
Olive oil is only the opening act, though. Nearby shelves carry pastas, canned goods, sauce ingredients, and other Italian pantry staples.
For anyone trying to cook more authentic Italian meals at home, this is a practical place to stock up in one trip.
A smart move is to bring a short shopping list and leave room for a few surprises. The shelves tend to reward curiosity, and the bottle that started as an afterthought may end up becoming the new kitchen staple.
Imports You Will Not Find Down the Street
Hard-to-find is the phrase that keeps coming up when people describe the inventory here.
Giacomo’s carries a long list of imported items that are tough to locate anywhere else nearby. That includes canned goods, dried pastas, sauce ingredients, and imported cheeses and meats.
A family from Bermuda Run came over and found themselves pleasantly surprised by the range of canned and fresh foods. It is a common reaction for first-timers who expect a simple deli.
The mix of products makes the shop useful well beyond lunch.
Shoppers can gather nearly everything needed to build an Italian dinner at home. Meats, cheeses, breads, and pantry basics share the same small footprint.
Some items rotate or appear only on certain days, so the shelves can look slightly different from one trip to the next.
That variety keeps regulars coming back to check what is new. It also makes the market a solid stop for gift shopping, since a bag of imported pantry goods tends to impress anyone who cooks.
Next comes the part of the shop that draws the biggest crowds, and it sits right behind the glass.
The Deli Counter Everyone Talks About
Ask around Greensboro about Giacomo’s, and the deli usually comes up first.
It is the most discussed part of the shop, with sandwiches and subs mentioned again and again. The menu is numbered and stacked with house favorites carrying Italian names.
Fans praise the generous portions of meat on many sandwiches. A few note that prices run slightly high, but they also say the kitchen is not shy with the fillings.
Not every order lands perfectly. One guest felt a busy Friday night sandwich fell short, even while praising the setting, so expectations should stay realistic.
Most people, however, leave happy.
Several transplants from New York, Connecticut, and Long Island say the counter reminds them of the delis they grew up with. That comparison carries real weight coming from people who know the territory.
The glass case itself is part of the draw, with imported and house-made meats and cheeses neatly displayed. Many shoppers order lunch and then buy extra by the pound for later.
Plan for a short wait at busy times, since every order is made fresh, and the line is usually a sign of what is worth waiting for.
Made in House, Not in a Factory
Plenty of stores sell Italian products. Fewer actually make them.
Giacomo’s stands out because so much of what it sells is produced right there. The shop makes its own sausage, mozzarella, pasta, and bread, along with house-made sauces and other prepared items.
Fresh mozzarella is made every day, according to the owners. It is one of the most frequently praised items in the case.
The house-baked rolls are popular enough that some customers order them by the dozen for gatherings.
That commitment to homemade goods is a big reason the market feels different from a standard grocery aisle. Shoppers are buying from the people who prepared the food, not from a distant supplier.
Regulars often describe everything as fresh, and many say the in-house items are what keep them returning.
Freshly made goods can sell out or vary by day, so arriving earlier in the afternoon may improve the odds of getting a favorite.
For North Carolinians who value small producers, this is a satisfying place to spend grocery money. The homemade theme carries straight into what shoppers can take home for dinner.
Dinner, Packed and Ready to Go
Not every trip to Giacomo’s ends with lunch. Many end with tomorrow night’s dinner already handled.
The shop sells homemade sauces, including frozen options, along with fresh and dried pastas and premade dinners. Shoppers can pair them for an easy meal that still feels special.
Some regulars have worked their way through several sauces and pastas and say each one has been a winner. A few items have even become weekly staples in their homes.
Out-of-town guests often load up before heading home. A couple traveling from Charlotte to Virginia took house sausage and sauce with them to cook for family.
Homemade pasta and sauce also make a thoughtful gift.
One shopper bought a set specifically to give away, which is a clever idea for hosts, teachers, or anyone hard to shop for.
The prepared sides draw plenty of attention as well, offering a simple way to round out a meal without extra cooking.
A cooler bag in the trunk is a smart addition for longer drives. With a little planning, a Saturday stop can turn into several easy dinners, and a few shoppers know the best day to come for a special bonus.
Friday Finds and Seasonal Surprises
Timing a trip can pay off at Giacomo’s.
Certain items appear only on specific days. Marinated small mozzarella balls, for example, are available only on Fridays, and fans plan their week around them.
That kind of limited availability adds a small treasure-hunt feel to each visit. Regulars learn the rhythm of the shop and come back for their favorites on the right day.
The rotating nature of fresh goods also means the case can change throughout the week. Something sold out on Saturday may be back on Wednesday.
A quick phone call before driving in may help confirm what is available.
The owners note that the phone is answered during open hours, and messages are returned when calls are missed. That is handy for anyone coming a long way for a specific item.
Fridays tend to be busy, especially later in the day, since many people stop in after work or on the way to weekend plans.
Arriving earlier can mean shorter lines and a fuller case. Speaking of long trips, some shoppers travel much farther than most people would expect for a deli stop.
Road Trips Worth the Gas Money
Ninety minutes is a long way to go for a sandwich, yet one Raleigh resident makes that drive regularly.
Giacomo’s has become a true destination for people across North Carolina. Shoppers come from Clemmons, Bermuda Run, and spots 40 miles out just to fill a bag.
Out-of-state travelers make detours too. Some plan stops on drives between Charlotte and Virginia, and one customer even called ahead before a trip down from Pittsburgh.
For locals, there is also the opposite story.
A lifelong Greensboro resident only recently discovered the market and admitted to being frustrated about missing it for so long. It happens more often than one might think with small shops tucked along busy roads.
That mix of devoted travelers and surprised neighbors says a lot about how word of mouth works here. The shop does not rely on flashy marketing.
For Triad residents, it is an easy weekend errand. For everyone else in North Carolina, it can anchor a full day trip with Greensboro’s parks and shops nearby.
Once inside, though, the reason people travel becomes clear, and it has a lot to do with the feel of the place.
A Corner of Italy in the Piedmont
More than one shopper has said Giacomo’s does not feel like North Carolina at all.
The atmosphere is often compared to a small corner of Italy. Hanging meats, cheeses on display, and shelves of imported products all contribute to that impression.
Even a guest who was disappointed by one sandwich still praised the inviting setting. That says a lot about how much the space itself contributes to the experience.
The shop suits a wide range of people. Families stop in, and children seem to enjoy it as much as adults.
Transplants from the Northeast tend to feel especially at home.
For them, the market can be a reminder of neighborhood delis from childhood. For lifelong Southerners, it may be a first taste of that tradition.
Home cooks, gift shoppers, and lunch-break regulars all find something worth their time. The small size keeps things personal rather than overwhelming.
Patience helps during peak hours, since the space can fill up quickly. Still, the energy of a busy counter is part of the charm.
The next question most people have is simple, and it comes up right after ordering: where exactly should lunch be eaten?
Where to Enjoy the Haul
Seating is the one thing Giacomo’s keeps to a minimum.
The shop is a market first, so there is no dining room inside. After a guest suggested adding a place to sit, the owners set up a table outside that can be used when the weather allows.
Since that table may not always be free, it helps to have a backup plan.
Some groups take their sandwiches to a nearby park and settle into one of the picnic shelters. It turns a quick deli run into a relaxed outdoor lunch.
Others simply eat in the car, which keeps everything as fresh as possible.
Freshness matters with hot sandwiches and those dressed in oil and vinegar. A long drive home can let the bread soak up more than intended, so eating sooner is often the better call.
For larger hauls, planning matters too. Bringing a cooler keeps meats, cheeses, and frozen sauces in good shape on the drive.
A blanket and a nearby green space can make the whole outing feel like a mini picnic. With lunch sorted, the next useful trick involves picking up the phone before leaving home.
Phone Orders and Party Platters
Calling ahead is one of the smartest moves at Giacomo’s.
The shop answers its phone during open hours and can have orders ready for pickup. One traveler called in, drove down from Pittsburgh, and found everything prepared on arrival.
That convenience is a real advantage on busy days, especially Saturdays when the line can stretch.
The market also handles larger orders for gatherings. Antipasto platters have been a hit at parties, and customers have ordered house-baked rolls by the dozen.
Orders have been ready on time, and guests at those events left impressed.
For anyone hosting a family event, office lunch, or holiday get-together, this is worth keeping in mind. A platter from a local Italian market feels more personal than a standard grocery tray.
Giving the shop enough notice is wise for bigger requests. Small kitchens work best with a little lead time.
If a call goes unanswered, leaving a message is the recommended route, since the team returns calls as soon as it can.
Of course, any plan depends on knowing when the doors are actually open, and the schedule here has a couple of quirks.
Hours, Crowds, and a Worthwhile Splurge
Mondays and Tuesdays are off the table, so plan around them.
Giacomo’s opens Wednesday through Friday from 11 AM to 7 PM. Saturday hours run from 10 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday is shorter, from noon to 5 PM.
Saturdays can get busy, though many say the sandwich is worth the wait. Weekday afternoons may offer a calmer experience.
Prices lean a little higher than a typical grocery store. Most shoppers feel the quality and generous portions balance that out, but it is fair to budget accordingly.
A short list keeps spending in check.
Still, it is easy to leave with more than planned once the shelves and the deli case start doing their work. A few extra dollars on a great olive oil or house-made pasta is the kind of splurge that tends to pay off at dinner.
For North Carolinians looking for a nearby outing with real personality, this small Greensboro shop delivers. It supports a local family business and fills the pantry at the same time.
Go once, and that sad supermarket olive oil may never get a second look again.
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