Page 6 - Monastery Sapore Holiday 2019 Brochure

S
| Special Feature
The Origin of
Monastery Bakery.
By James Hill
Monastery Bakery originally began as a modest little bakery just down the QEW in Etobicoke, far from the suburban oasis that is Oakville. However, the original building simply wasn’t big enough to contain the dreams and aspirations of a little boy who often exclaimed “when I grow up, I want to be
a baker.” That little boy was Leo Stalteri, son of owners Gennaro and Angie Stalteri.
In 1989, they sold that small bakery in Etobicoke and from there the search began for a bigger location that could meet the needs of an ambitious family looking to build on a dream. One day they saw a space available for lease in the Monastery Plaza in Oakville. “It checked all the boxes,”
added Gennaro. “Adequate space with room to grow, a thriving neighbourhood in Oakville with customer parking, which we quickly grew to love. It was the perfect space for
a bakery/deli.” The Stalteri family worked diligently and prepared for the Grand Opening on October 12th, 1990,
which was a great success.
When Leo was 9 years old and had started school at
St. Matthew Catholic Elementary School, just down the street from the new location, he would come to the bakery after school and weekends and learned early on that he enjoyed rolling up his sleeves and getting to work. His father Gennaro, woke up extra early each day to do all the baking by hand, a tradition that Monastery still upholds today. His mother Angie worked in the store doing a little of everything to ensure that customers were more than satisfied with the quality and taste of everything they offered.
As the business grew steadily, Gennaro and Angie, along with Leo’s help, continued with tasks like rolling cheese sticks, making pizza, frying chicken and making delicious Italian specialty dishes, with the help of a full staff of bakers, pastry chefs, and cooks to meet the incredibly high standards Monastery’s customers had grown accustomed to.
“Monastery’s commitment to offer nothing but the best is what keeps customers coming back.” Leo proudly attests. “Plus, our employees work so hard each and every day to provide great service and the finest quality products. It truly is a family here. From my parents, to myself, to my lovely wife Adrianna, to the people we employ and the people we serve, Monastery Bakery is truly a family.”
And while the products and people ensure a steady stream of satisfied customers, Monastery Bakery has continued
to work hard to bring new and exciting innovations to the business. With a few expansions later, including the addition of a fresh meat and produce department, and just recently, an online catering e-store, the little bakery flourished into the full-fledged boutique grocery store that it is today, providing a gourmet shopping experience, all in one place.
It was the little bakery that could. And did.
6 | Sapore 2019 Holiday Guide