Any closure in the hospitality sector is tough to take, but losing a business that has left its mark on the city for as long as I Camisa & Son is an even bigger sting. Soho’s iconic deli has been trading for more than 60 years in its Old Compton Street location – but August 3 will mark its final day of service.
I Camisa & Son is one of those spots in Soho where those who worked there and locals knew each other by name – on each occasion I visited, there was invariably a conversation between buyer and seller struck up in their native Italian tongue as fresh focaccia was prepared. You’d also tend to catch somebody being handed their weekly mortadella supply before without even needing to ask for it. The deli was clearly as a regular part of life as catching the Tube or enjoying a morning coffee for many in London.
Speaking in a statement on their website, they said: “It is with a heavy heart that we announced the closure of I Camisa & Son. Due to the significant reduction in office workers following the pandemic, the economics of running this store at this location are no longer viable.
“Despite the support of our landlord, we are unable to continue operating here. The name of I Camisa will remain with us, and we are exploring the possibility of relocating the business to a different location in the near future.”
There were fears the shop would close back in 2022, but after negotiations with landlord Shaftesbury Capital and the 6,000-strong online petition, they were granted a two-year lease extension. The I Camisa name dates all the way back to 1929, when Ennio and Isidoro Camisa opened the store, which then opened over on Berwick Street after closure during WWII before an eventual move to its current Old Compton Street location. Despite retaining the Camisa name, Italian importers Alvini, who brought the shop in 2014, and will keep their produce available to purchase online (which you can do here).
This Saturday (August 3) will mark the closure of I Camisa & Son on 61 Old Compton Street, W1D 6HS.