There is a hotchpotch of businesses selling alternative clothing, vintage fashion or streetwear alongside independent bookstores courageously fighting for a slice of the modern market. An example? The Verso bookstore or the Scaldasole bookstore. Then, there are also sophisticated florists, like Clori Home and Flowers as well as gramophone record stores, such as Serendeepity, which have become a go-to treasure trove for music and flower lovers.
The Ticinese neighbourhood is not only on the cutting edge of lifestyle and eatery trends. It still preserves a large number of old shops lining its streets, small local businesses which have been operating for over 50 years.
One such place is the Rosticceria Gilardi in Corso Italia. Well worth a mention, it is run by Elena, who opened her business back in 1968 and now works alongside her son Alessandro, continuing to serve behind the counter and welcoming her customers with a smile. She wakes up every morning at 6 am and prepares the deli dishes that have people coming back for years now. Here, like in the Milan of yesteryear, you can drop by for a chat and escape from the hectic pace of the city, listening to the stories of those who watched the neighbourhood undergo its many transformations.
Another legacy store which opened back in 1955 and has withstood the passage of time is Calzature Gallon in Piazza Sant’Eustorgio. Family-owned for three generations, this business boasts a heritage sign over the storefront which attests to its heritage, but it has nevertheless kept abreast of the times, opening an Instagram account during the recent pandemic. This brand-new sales platform, together with a sudden demand for furlane slippers, has turned this neighbourhood store into a go-to supplier for the fashionistas of Milan.
Near to the place where the Naviglio once flowed, the renowned Pasticceria Cucchi is still going strong. Dating back to 1936, it continues to be a cornerstone of the community. It used to be called Bar Cucchi when the area was not as popular as it is today. The business was passed down from one generation to the next, until it was sold to another Milanese family rooted in the catering sector. The new owners, the Montis, have vouched to keep everything as it was.
Another legacy address in Milan is the Argenteria Miracoli (the Miracoli silverware store) in Via Burigozzo, which was founded back in 1912. It stayed in the ownership of the Miracoli family until some years ago, when the last member of the family passed away. At that point, the business was bought out by Henne Larsen, who was already a partner. Nothing in the showroom has been changed. The wooden furniture is a perfect showcase for the precious silverware and the old workshop still occupies the lower floor, even though it is no longer operational.
Another two heritage businesses stand close to each other on the Corso di Porta Ticinese: the Farmacia Della Cittadella and the Ferramenta Masé. The former stands out for its elegant wooden furnishings, while the latter features an interesting vintage store sign which only partially narrates the long story of the Masé family. They arrived in Milan from Val Rendena in 1958 and set up a knife grinding and hardware store, before expanding and opening a series of shops all over town.
Learn more