Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sally Capp, officiated the historic store’s reopening.
Capp acknowledged Italian businessman Carlo Valmorbida, who bought the store in 1955 and became a pioneer for Italian products in Melbourne and Australia.
The mayor then congratulated Carlo’s grandsons, Jamie Valmorbida and Luca Sbardella, on taking over the store and giving it a new look and feel, while maintaining and enhancing the building’s architectural integrity.
Carlo’s wife, Elsie Valmorbida, had the honour of cutting the ribbon to inaugurate the K&G Deli and Espresso Bar, which is part of the new three-level food “precinct”.
The store’s reopening is the result of three years of hard work by cousins Jamie and Luca, who have created a unique space which celebrates the building’s heritage while also reflecting the Melbourne of today and the future.
Look out for a detailed article on King & Godfree’s history and the building’s new design in this Thursday’s edition of Il Globo and online.
