Brown's Closes Three Di Bruno Bros. Locations, Focuses on Philadelphia Flagship Stores

Brown’s Super Stores has closed three of its five Di Bruno Bros. gourmet grocery locations as part of a strategic refocus on the specialty food brand’s flagship operations, according to company officials.

The closures affect stores in Wayne and Ardmore, along with a Philadelphia location at 9th and Chestnut streets, a Brown’s media representative confirmed. The moves leave three Di Bruno Bros. locations operating in Philadelphia, including the iconic Rittenhouse Square shop and the historic 9th Street Italian Market and Bottle Shop.

“This was a difficult decision, but one that reflects our commitment to ensuring the long‑term sustainability and strength of the Di Bruno Bros. brand,” spokesperson Maureen Gillespie said.

Brown’s, a member of the Wakefern Food Corp. cooperative that operates most ShopRite supermarkets in the region, acquired Di Bruno Bros. in March 2024. The deal brought the 85-year-old specialty grocer under Brown’s operational control, though financial terms were not disclosed at the time.

Di Bruno Bros. was founded in 1939 in South Philadelphia’s Italian Market, according to company information. The specialty retailer imports Italian and European groceries, offering products ranging from handcrafted cheeses to authentic Italian snacks for retailers, food service operators and individual customers.

Gillespie said Brown’s is “refocusing its Di Bruno Bros. Market strategy on the heart of the brand — its two iconic flagship locations and its growing online business.”

“The Rittenhouse Square shop and the historic 9th Street Italian Market and Bottle Shop continue to embody the classic Di Bruno Bros. experience that generations of Philadelphians and visitors have cherished, while the expanding online business offers new customers another way to discover and enjoy the brand,” she said. “By concentrating on these core elements, we believe this is a positive reset that allows us to preserve and elevate the in‑store tradition while growing the brand’s reach in meaningful new ways.”

The closures come roughly two years after Brown’s initial acquisition of the Philadelphia-based gourmet grocer. The company operates the acquisition through its role as a Wakefern Food Corp. member, which also purchased Di Bruno Bros.’ portfolio of branded products for an undisclosed amount several months after the initial deal.

Since the Wakefern purchase, the cooperative has expanded distribution of Di Bruno Bros.’ signature products, including cheese spreads, artisanal crostini and specialty jams, according to Gillespie.

“This growing network is helping make Di Bruno Bros. products more widely available, extending the brand’s legacy to a broader audience while maintaining the quality, authenticity, and craftsmanship that define it,” she said.

Gillespie emphasized that the Di Bruno Bros. branded product line “continues to grow dynamically” and now reaches more customers through Wakefern’s expanded distribution network.

The spokesperson positioned the store closures as part of preserving the brand’s heritage while adapting to market conditions. “We remain deeply committed to honoring Di Bruno Bros.’ rich heritage and ensuring its success for decades to come,” she said. “As a family‑owned business, Brown’s understands the importance — and the challenges — of preserving independent legacy brands in today’s competitive market.”

The remaining Di Bruno Bros. locations continue to blend local and global culinary traditions, maintaining the specialty food experience that has defined the brand for more than eight decades in the Philadelphia market.