Salumi is a Seattle institution, a beloved cured meat producer and sandwich shop in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood with a perpetual line down the block. It was opened by chef Mario Batali’s dad, Armandino Batali, 20 years ago. And his grandfather opened Seattle’s first Italian grocery in the same neighborhood more than 100 years ago. But the deli is experiencing some big changes. It was recently sold to Martinique Grig and Clara Veniard, who now claim to be the only women in the country to own a charcuterie shop.
“This was really a passion project for Armandino,” said Grig. “He was a Boeing engineer for many years and when he was ready to retire, he had always wanted to do something in food and had a passion for cured meats. So he actually spent some time in Spain and Italy really learning the craft. Then about seven years ago he sold [the business] to his daughter, Gina.”
