Wednesday afternoon I had the chance to swing by a neighborhood celebration of sorts at Corti Brothers market in East Sacramento. More than 100 East Sac residents -- joined by the city's top chefs -- were on hand to celebrate the news that the market will not be taken over, and that the owner, Darrell Corti, is now in position to renegotiate his lease. I had the chance to talk briefly with Darrell before the press conference with the city's top cooks (including the chef/owners of Biba's, Lemongrass, and Spataro's). I let him know I'll do all I can as mayor to keep this East Sac landmark in the location where it has been since the early 1970s.
For those of you who don't know the history, Corti Bros. is a Sacramento institution and the foundation of the once-dominant Italian-American population in East Sacramento. Darrell Corti is one of the most knowledgeable food and wine aficionado's in California, and his market is stocked with exclusive gourmet foods. (Personally, I'm a big fan of the deli sandwiches).
Grocery stores with fresh produce are key to every neighborhood, and Corti's is no exception. It's exactly the kind of Sacramento-based small business we should be fighting to keep in our community.