Carlton welcomes Gertrude Grocer

The latest addition to the neighborhood is Gertrude Grocer, operated by a dedicated team offering locally sourced, high-quality goods to the Carlton community.

Scheduled for an official launch in mid-April, Gertrude Grocer, nestled on Elgin St, has already opened its doors to locals eager to explore its curated selection while preparing for “stage two”.

“We saw this site during pandemic, and being Italian and spending a lot of time in Lygon St, we think it’s a great community,” its owners told Inner City News.

“Seventy per cent of our products are Italian, but we do also have a lot of local products. The idea is that you come in, you have good value for money, and good quality products. We try to select the best.”

The brains behind this venture are no strangers to success, having established sister stores in Kensington and the flagship outlet on Gertrude St in Fitzroy, from which the store derives its name.

“I think it’s going to be a good thing and we want to get some of the community involved to try to replicate the other stores,” they said.

From fresh produce and bakery delights to pantry staples like tinned fish and artisanal condiments, Gertrude Grocer caters to diverse tastes while keeping things affordable for locals.

The team also offers a range of flowers and plants sourced fresh from the local markets.

“There’s no flower shop around here or plant shop, and we think our selection is quite good.”

We want to give experiences to people about things they probably don’t access every day.

Looking ahead, the Gertrude Cellar and Gertrude Wine Club promises monthly tastings and educational sessions with a focus on Italian varietals.

They are also hoping to create “an Italian market feel”, with plans to bring in musicians on select nights to play outside the shop.

“The wine club is about giving people the opportunity to taste wines that are not widely available, unless you go to specialised bottle shops or restaurants,” the owners said.

While having only been open for just over a week, the team is already feeling the love in the community with locals and businesses coming out to support their new neighbour.

“In the few days we’ve been here it’s been really good, but not many people know that we are here and they are actually still surprised when they walk past – it’s been great, a lot of people have introduced themselves already.”

Gertrude Grocer is located at 144 Elgin St and is open Monday to Sunday from 8am to 8pm. •