Roma Urban Market Nears Opening in Little Italy

Though Roma Urban Market’s initial May opening date has come and gone, it’s looking likely that the marketplace and eatery will be completed for launch in early July. Eater recently toured the in-progress 8,900-square-foot site with Roma Market COO Eric Enciso and got a sneak peek at the layout of the space which includes a wine and spirits shop and a retail section with goods ranging from organic pre-packaged produce to dried pasta and household essentials.

Positioned to be an all-day shopping and dining resource for Little Italy, the market includes extensive hot and cold prepared food options that span a 24-foot case stocked with deli meats, cheeses, housemade sausages and prepared meals to a station for rotisserie chickens and a serve-yourself salad bar. There will also be a pizza counter, fueled by a triple-deck pizza oven, and an area dedicated to making fresh-to-order sandwiches.

This urban expansion and evolution for the market, which has locations in Pasadena and Escondido, includes a nine-seat Italian-style coffee bar that will serve a range of expresso drinks and breakfast items including pastries from its in-house bakery. Later in the day, the coffee bar will transition into a beer and wine bar, offering happy hour and menu of Italian snacks and small plates. A 9 by 60 foot patio on Beech Street that will be an extension of the coffee, beer and wine bar while another 8 by 20 foot patio on Columbia will offer extra market seating. The Columbia Street side will also feature a walk-up window, where new frozen treats company Dixie Pops will be selling its homemade popsicles.