Bill Castellani followed in his grandfather’s footsteps when he opened an Italian grocery store and delicatessen on the corner of Clemens and Michigan Avenues in 1978.

His grandfather Paul Fata immigrated from Sant’ Ippolito (Calabria in Southern Italy) in 1920, leaving from Naples, Italy, and arriving on the ship the Cretic and landing in Boston. His brother Angelo met him and they made their way to Lansing, Michigan, after a short stop in Howell. Paul and his spouse Mary opened a grocery on the corner of Shiawassee St. and Grand Avenue kitty corner from the Fire Department which evolved into a restaurant supply business. Paul and his family lived upstairs from the grocery at 201 East Shiawassee for a number of years which was typical for early immigrants in the grocery business.

Paul Fata received his citizenship in 1923 along with 47 other immigrants including Emil Demarco, who was the other of Emil’s on Michigan Avenue. Bill Castellani is currently in the process of seeking dual citizenship with Italy.