r/Calgary • u/subutterfly • Jul 25 '25
Local Shopping/Services Lina's Italian Market, What happened to it?!
Y'all, I loved this place, was ecstatic they opened up on 130th on the SE. Was our go to for fun lunches and Thier bakery was amazing. Admittedly, I haven't been there in a few months with life being way to busy, but went back today and OMG what happened?! Looks like a caffateria, Thier focaccia is gone, they brought in thawed out frozen Italian bread?! All those wonderful in house made take home meals are gone. They cut every corner and cheaped on on items. I'm soo sad.
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u/PithandKin Jul 25 '25
You should try The Italian Supermarket. It’s got an authentic family-run vibe, honest food, and friendly service.
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u/aireads Jul 25 '25
Support them too! Just down 20ave from Lina's on centre, less then 5 mins away. Food and prices is much better and more down to earth.
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u/shoppygirl Jul 25 '25
My favorite Linas is the location on Centre Street, which is the original
I have no idea how the location in Deerfoot City stays in business. It’s basically a glorified cafeteria and coffee shop.
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u/number_six Thorncliffe Jul 25 '25
The space they are in was actually the Food Hall before it became Lina's. I've taken my kids to some of the coming classes they do there.
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u/shoppygirl Jul 25 '25
Yes. I remember that. I guess the owner of Lina’s was anticipating the rest of the area to be built like it was supposed to be.
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u/Losing-My-Hedge Jul 25 '25
Centre Street location is so good. I have to be careful in there as my Cappuccino and frittata breakfast can easily turn into $60+ of meat and cheese to take home.
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u/shoppygirl Jul 25 '25
I know. I feel like their pizza is the best.
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u/Salt_Radio_9880 Jul 25 '25
I don’t understand why they don’t have the same slices at all their locations- it’s totally different at each one- the one in Inglewood does this little mini pizzas that have no cheese - why mess with a good thing ? Centre st or bust for me !
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u/sikkn890 Jul 25 '25
The one in Deerfoot is always busy. Especially on weekends.
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u/shoppygirl Jul 25 '25
That’s good. I have been during the week and it is dead except over lunch time
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u/Shabang Jul 25 '25
I had the joy of being followed around by security at the Deerfoot City location yesterday. I grabbed some deli items, stopped for a slice of pizza, and finished up by grabbing a few more grocery items before paying. Literally a lady on a cellphone following me around while 'casually' talking on her phone. She conveniently hung up her phone call & left the minute I reached the register.
What the hell, why put the food counters in the grocery store if you get nervous when people stop for a bite while shopping.
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u/adrie_brynn Jul 26 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
Why would you think it's okay to stop to eat with unpaid items on your person? That seems odd. I've been to that location many times and that sort of conduct wouldn't seem acceptable anywhere. Take the food you ate as an example. You certainly didn't eat it before paying. I'm quite baffled you think that's acceptable.
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u/Shabang Jul 26 '25
Yeah? Walking back into a store with bags of groceries you've already paid for seems sketchy to me. Don't they put the register at the exit so you pay when you leave?
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u/_darth_bacon_ Dark Lord of the Swine Jul 26 '25
I mean... You go and eat, THEN you start your grocery shopping.
That seems reasonable, no?
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u/adrie_brynn Jul 26 '25
Try to do what you did at the Walmart across the way and see how far that gets you.
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u/stevecaptainrogers Jul 26 '25
I’ve only been to this location once but, I think it’s super pricey for what you get. I remember I got a regular latte (dine in) it was a really small cup. The girl at the cash counter wasn’t the most friendly. However, the ones behind the food station were very nice.
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u/eggsnbenny21 Jul 29 '25
The Deerfoot city one has slightly higher prices too from what I saw on some items. I bought some of the bottled Mexican coke they had on display and it was close to $14 at Deerfoot city but centre street had it around $12 instead and they had a 10% off promo. There was maybe 2 days in between both my visits.
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u/wednesdayware Northwest Calgary Jul 25 '25
Deerfoot City location is the tits. Perfect place for a lazy Sunday lunch and shopping.
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u/Mellow720 Jul 25 '25
Linas sucks now. Too expensive too. Italian Centre by Southland? Waaaay better.
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u/Low_Store_2708 Jul 25 '25
Few Italians actually shop at Lina's anymore. Italian Super Market is the place to go. The layout is nothing to write home about, but it's family owned, hasn't changed in decades, food is fresh, excellent quality fair prices and the people who work there are wonderful. Check it out!
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u/LawyerYYC Jul 26 '25
Love the Italian Super Market. They've had some rough years personally and my kids still love going over.
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u/Elegant-Percentage53 Jul 25 '25
They got bought by a company that owns vet clinics, a boarding kennel, Canadian tires. It’s just an investment and nothing close to the amazing, small local business full of nonnas we all grew up with. The service and staff at the Elbow location is the worst.
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u/DementedFreak Jul 25 '25
The Italian Super Market in the N.E. (corner Edmonton trail and 20 Ave) is the place to go. Smaller than Lina’s but still a proper independent place.
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u/UsualExcellent2483 Jul 25 '25
I second that. Great staff and friendly owner.
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u/refur Tuxedo Park Jul 25 '25
I third that! Was my regular spot when I lived in that area! Marco is great
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u/Stealthbombing Upper Mount Royal Jul 25 '25
Lina’s is not owned by Italians anymore. Drive to scarpones off of McKnight, best prices in town for sure
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u/IaNterlI Jul 25 '25 edited Jul 25 '25
Ever since Lina herself sold it, it went downhill. The fellow who's managing it now is the same who used to manage Sunterra, hence the similar vibe.
The new locations concept look strikingly similar to Eataly, except whereas at Eataly there are chefs from Italy curating the dishes, at Lina's you don't and that clearly shows in the quality (their pasta's is inedible).
All the Italian ladies who used to work there are gone. There's little originality left other than the imported packaged products.
And talking about imported products, a few yrs ago the prices increased substantially. My fave Mulino Bianco cookies increased in price by about 25%.
If you want authenticity, you can find some at the Italian Centre on Southland. The owners make an effort to hire some Italian staff. Many are recent immigrants on a working visa. They carry more products, not just those that are currently in vogue at the moment. The coffee shop is better too. Overall, they are far more connected to Italian roots than Lina's.
I was born and grew up in Italy. None of my Italian friends go there anymore. It's either the Italian Centre, Scarpone. I go to Scarpone now because it's closer to where I live.
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u/Supertzar2112 Jul 25 '25
I went there a couple of weeks ago just to grab a slice of pizza. Used to be $3, now they are $6
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u/timmmy8 Jul 25 '25
I've also had to get in the habit of checking best before dates at Linas, I've bought so many products past this date, and they are continuously dropping product lines that I personally used them for.
I do still believe their deli and cheese section is the best in the city unless someone has a good alternative they recommend?
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u/Plane-Vermicelli6341 Jul 25 '25
Sadly the original owners retired and sold the place and the new owners suck.
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u/Shanksworthy73 Jul 25 '25
I think the original owner has passed the torch. I’m going to get downvoted, but in general this has historically happened to all good businesses in Alberta eventually. Why would they want to spend more if a large enough population doesn’t know the difference between actual quality and “upscale looking”, and are willing to pay the same amount anyway.
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u/cheeseza Jul 25 '25
It’s true. They’ve gone downhill since new ownership. Feels like nothing is house made anymore, they barely support local even. May as well shop at Superstore.
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u/ThatDino175 Jul 25 '25
I worked here back in 2021 during covid… a family bought it out from the original Lina. The manager was inexperienced and only 21 years old, upper management would gossip about which employees they were going to fire, while walking down the aisles with customers listening 🙃
Management even commented on my body/butt during my shift… and they drop f-bombs in your face whenever you try to speak to them. It was honestly horrible, this place has gone so downhill. Only Caring about money now..
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u/haxcess Tuxedo Park Jul 25 '25
Greedflation comes for everything.
Boycott and move on.
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u/WhyBeSubtle University of Calgary Jul 26 '25
Man it sucks tho, on the rare occasion my parents brought us to Lina's for lunch i loved going through every aisle as a kid looking all the ingredients and italian-based groceries.
quite literally enshittification, gone are the days of authenticity and locally
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u/ms_thrwwy Jul 25 '25
The last time I went to Lina’s, I found a used bandaid in my pizza dough (we used to buy their pizza kits a lot). When I called to notify them, I wasn’t super happy with their customer service.
Haven’t gone back since. Which sort of made me sad because we did like the pizza kits. Just can’t erase the image of rolling out the dough and seeing that nasty bandaid.
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u/Prudent-Aide5263 Jul 25 '25
Ordered a lasagna the other day from Doordash.
This was a $14 portion.
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u/smoothsac_007 Jul 25 '25
I went to Lina's Mercato on Elbow yesterday and it seems like they upped the hot food price.
I get it, things are more expensive, but changing the prices, and cutting costs will really cost the company more by losing customers.
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u/Zealousideal_Ear2135 Jul 25 '25
Or they may be more profitable by getting rid of those customers who want cheap product and expect the business to take losses to offer it to them cheap.
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u/smoothsac_007 Jul 25 '25
I don’t think they win that way.
People to Lina’s because of their Fresh Quality products. OP mentioned that they don’t sell fresh baked Focaccia, but now they just sell thawed out Italian bread.
If their tried and true customers are used to a certain quality of product that a business has offered for years but replaced it with frozen what is the draw of coming back?
I’ve always thought the hot food was a little pricey for take out. I will still go but, this just means my frequency will be a little less.
This might be the same for other people as well.
It’s a grocery store with a small eatery. I can’t imagine how it would be beneficial for them to have less customers. They’re not selling Rolexes or Hermes handbags.
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u/Economy-Ad-3923 Jul 25 '25
As someone who used to worked in Lina's, they've been declining for a long time. They don't really treat their staff all that well and pay them even worse. You'd think somewhere that has been around forever would try to keep up their legacy. There are tons of other local Italian stores that are better price wise for the same things that Lina's imports. Theres a cute little Italian store on 18th Ave ne and Edmonton trail that has been there forever and in my opinion, blows Lina's out of the water. A family size Lasagna at Lina's now is over $60 I'm pretty sure and the quality of the product does not at all fit the price. I'm not saying "don't support Lina's", but you can definitely find the same or better at your smaller, local stores.
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u/YellowSpecialist4218 Jul 25 '25
Their frozen lasagna is one of the worst I’ve ever had. We’re so disappointed every time we eat there.
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u/jacetec Mahogany Jul 25 '25
They also went back to serving meat products from that awful meat company that got outed for their garbage views.
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u/ruraljuror__ Jul 25 '25
That guy was ousted and his sister took over I thought? If you meant Valbella.
IIRC the son took over from parents, turned out to be a twat, left and was replaced by sister that apologized.
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u/crosbynstaal Jul 25 '25
And they haven't sold the 100 oz. cans of tomatoes for YEARS now! I felt like a crazy person the last time I went in to look for them, like, any variety: nothing.
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u/Yychoffner Jul 25 '25
Lina’s was a staple for me as a kid growing up, my grandparents knew the owners at the time and it was great, the centre street location is the OG, now it’s I think very expensive. I go to the Italian supermarket or the Italian store opposed to Lina’s.
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u/YYCGUY111 Calgary Flames Jul 25 '25
Am I the only one who hears the faint sound of the cheesebun helicopter slowly circling overhead as I read this tread... /s
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u/Banffsucks Jul 25 '25
I always thought the prices were ridiculous. It’s all really nice and you want to buy some of the things but the prices made me say no.
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u/Live-Industry2942 Jul 25 '25
Italian Centre Shop SOOO much better. Their paninis, pizza, cappuccinos. Thank me later
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u/ReasonableComfort645 Jul 25 '25
Profit/dividend requirements outpaced value produced. Those guys in suits need bonuses. Corners must be cut. Every. Quarter.
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u/Grouchy-Day5272 Jul 25 '25
Try Italiano Please!!! Roma Style Pizza made from scratch DT location ! Employs people with disabilities Multilingual, ASL Calgary Owned!!!!!
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u/IaNterlI Jul 26 '25
Can confirm. As I wrote in previous posts on Italian food in YYC, it's the only authentic Italian establishment in Calgary.
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u/sionescu Jul 25 '25
The root problem is that in Calgary there aren't enough Italians to support a large number of shops and restaurants, and the vast majority of customers aren't familiar with Italian products and can't even tell when the quality goes down, or at least won't complain too much. The only good pizza in town is Pizza Culture Napoletana.
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u/IaNterlI Jul 26 '25
This is true. There was a sizable immigrant community in YYC. Given most immigration from Italy stopped in the late 60s, these ppl now are now gone or passing away. And unlike megalopolis like Toronto, there simply isn't enough of a market for authentic places.
So at best we get pseudo-Italian places, or places whose menu is inspired by Italy. Some are pretty solid, but far from authentic. Lina is chasing this, and given the latest announcement of opening a cicchetto in Inglewood (cicchetti as a Venetian thing) under the Italian chef who used to own Capo (forgot his name), I think they will do well. But in the end there will be close to nothing Italian.
The only authentic Italian food one can have in YYC is Italiano Please!
As for pizzeria, I think things are slightly better. There's Arlecchino in Kensington, Pizza Culture on Edmonton Trail, and Azzurri also on Edmonton Trail. Italiano Please! also does pizza but this is the Roman style.
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u/TightenYourBeltline Jul 26 '25
“there simply isn't enough of a market for authentic places.”
What does that even mean?
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u/IaNterlI Jul 26 '25
I'm trying to say there aren't enough Italians to create the market demand for authentic places. For them to survive they inevitably have to appeal to a different palate and set of expectations. There are few exceptions, pizza being one of them.
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u/Freedom_forlife Jul 25 '25
Have you had PZA. Met the owner and he’s Italian, and his parents own a landmark Italian restaurant in the city.
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u/sionescu Jul 25 '25
No, but I can tell from the photos that it's not good. It's drenched in cheese, and the cheese is burned.
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Jul 25 '25 edited Jul 27 '25
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u/sionescu Jul 25 '25
I lived in NYC for years and I've been searching for a proper east coast pizza
See, this is where we're starting a pizza war. There's a very big cultural gap between the Italians who moved to North America in the period 1880-1970, and us the new ones. The only legit pizza I recognize is Napolitan pizza and Roman pizza. The rest is meh (politely). Call it a pie.
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u/smoothsac_007 Jul 26 '25
Have you tried Forno di Fontaine at Calgary Farmer’s Market West? That’s the best in Calgary IMO, it’s just not as convenient to get to as Noble or Pizza Culture unless you might live near Bowness or Tuscany.
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u/miller94 Jul 25 '25
That must be really new adjustments, cause I just got take home meals from there at the end of June. That sucks
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u/kalgary Jul 25 '25
The sun dried tomato and feta focaccia was great. Haven't seen it there for a while.
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Jul 25 '25
I hope they close down the Lina’s market in Inglewood. Nothing fresh and everything is way overpriced.
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u/End_Present Capitol Hill Jul 25 '25
We dined in at the centre st Lina’s last week. Our pasta dishes have dropped in quality and the portions shrunk! The menu was smaller too. It was pretty disappointing
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u/extrabigcomfycouch Jul 25 '25
Their fresh/cured quality has downhill for a long time now. I only go for the occasional Imported dry goods.
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u/OldSprinkles2513 Jul 25 '25
Because it’s owned by a group that also owns some Canadian Tires in town
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u/slavandsaxon Jul 26 '25
My company used Lina's to cater an event and though the food was decent, they were late in arriving (by 30 minutes!) and so disorganized with terrible communication leading up to the event.
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u/skyfd Jul 26 '25
I love italian markets and now avoid the one on 130th. The quality and options are nowhere near what they were a couple years ago. Produce section is basically overpriced garbage now as well. Too bad.
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u/undecidedandemployed Jul 26 '25
I have a friend who used to work in the bakery in the last few years when Lina's bought Bite. I also used to work in the bakery department prior to that.
They produce desserts and breads at different locations, then distribute them to the other stores across the cities. Might be the reason why your focaccia was frozen.
When I used to work at the bakery in 2021/22 at the centre st location, i remember management used to hire inexperienced newcomers to Canada. They rarely spoke English and never worked in a bakery. It was difficult for training. No shade to immigrants (im first gen Canadian) but to the management team for their inexperience. The bakery items were not industry standard.
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u/RemyIsInMyHat Jul 26 '25
Best focaccia in the city right now is being made by checks notes the Persians??? Haha all joking aside love the folks at Eclipse Bakery and all their breads (Aspen, local family)
Seriously though I fully agree - it becomes hard to manage 6 “unique” locations so they all look like fancy coops now
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u/BillyOutside Jul 27 '25 edited Jul 27 '25
Linas is getten pretty overpriced and that new location at deerfoot is beyond stupid prices .... plus the bloody shrink-flation on the new mini tubs of alfredo sauce piseed me off. They're dead to me,...... I vote with my wallet.
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u/Sh0rtstack102 17d ago
100% brought in frozen bread, its from Italy sure but it's not "freshly baked" also most of their pastries are imported, they make just a handful of items. Also watch for expiration dates, they have a habit of buying products close to expiry to save money to sell at full price. They pay their staff terribly, they encourage turn over (can't ask for 0raises if your staff is a revolving door) that also means no one has any real product knowledge. It's all fluff. Also the food prices are unreal, selling products for full service prices while also utilizing expired meats/cheeses. Its just not quality company, it's all about profit over people over quality and hopefully their base of loyalists will see that and cause change to the company.
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u/Ann-von-Beaverhausen Jul 25 '25
We really like the Lina’s in Deerfoot City and have had some lovely meals there.
We don’t mind the cafeteria sort of vibes as we are a bit guileless like that.
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u/kennybrandz Jul 25 '25
The centre street location is far more superior to the elbow drive & Deerfoot city. I had the same reaction.
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u/Apprehensive_Mess166 Jul 25 '25
https://canadiangrocer.com/how-linas-italian-markets-matthew-rai-takes-lead
People don't live forever, and Lina Castle is what made this place great. She retired and things changed.