

Chris Herhalt, CP24.com





Pusateri’s flagship gourmet grocery store in North York held an official re-opening Friday after a undergoing an extensive restoration following a major fire 15 months ago.

Flames tore through a large section of the Avenue Road store on the night of Aug. 15, 2015.

The fire eventually went to three alarms and required as many as 15 fire trucks to subdue.

The store was closed at the time but three cleaners were inside and escaped unharmed.

Restoring the store and repairing damage caused by the blaze took more than a year.

“It feels incredible, the space turned out beautiful and we’re so excited,” President Frank Luchetta said.

The new 15,000 square foot store contains a cold-pressed juice shop, a café and a live open cooking area.

He thanked customers for patiently waiting until the location could reopen.

“They’ve been here by our sides for this entire rebuild.”

Luchetta said the store has been on Avenue Road since 1986.

He wouldn’t comment on how much was spent to renovate the store, only saying “it was expensive.”