Customers of the legendary Donati’s butcher shop in Carlton feared the end was nigh when its founder announced his retirement. But their prayers may have been answered by a buyer who wants business as usual.
Donati’s Fine Meats, a fixture of Lygon Street since 1972, will continue to trade as a butcher shop with a new owner – who has a name familiar to many on the strip – taking the reins from founder Leo Donati, who is retiring.
When the 77-year-old Donati announced his plans to sell the business and retire late last year, it sparked worry that the last butcher shop of Carlton’s Little Italy would also become history. But Jamie Valmorbida, part of the family who own King & Godfree and several other businesses nearby, has purchased the shop with the intent to continue supplying pork sausages, veal and other meat to its many regular customers.
In a statement, Valmorbida said that three generations of his family had been customers of Donati’s.
“Donati’s is one of Melbourne’s great traditional butchers. Customers can expect the same products, recipes and standards that have defined Donati’s for generations to continue”.
Valmorbida will work with Leo Donati’s son Marcello on a transition and retain long-standing butcher Sam Spagnuolo while bringing in Mark Glenn, executive chef of several Valmorbida venues, to oversee operations.
Leo Donati said in a statement: “Jamie shares our values of quality, craft and a long-term commitment to the Carlton neighbourhood,” he said. “Marcello and I feel confident Donati’s is in the right hands as it moves into its next chapter”.
More to come.
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Emma Breheny – Emma is Good Food’s Melbourne eating out and restaurant editor and editor of The Age Good Food Guide.
