Founded in 1973, La Baia dei Formaggi grew out of Francesco Occhiuto’s lifelong relationship with cheese, which began in his teens at a market stall in Calabria and followed him to Montreal in the late 1960s. What started as a way to serve the Italian community has become one of the city’s most extensive specialty food operations.

The shop is known for its unusually deep cheese selection, alongside a broad range of charcuterie, imported pantry staples, and fresh pasta made in-house. Many products arrive through private imports from small Italian producers, including exclusive items developed under the family’s own labels. Still family-run today, La Baia functions as both an Italian grocery and a working deli, with panini prepared daily using the same ingredients lining the shelves.