VERO BEACH — For John Iarusso, Nonna Lina’s Italian Deli is more than a business. It is a tribute, a promise and a piece of home served on semolina bread.

Iarusso, 63, moved to Florida in 2020 from the Bronx, New York, bringing with him a lifetime of food knowledge, neighborhood pride and deep respect for “the old ways.”

The deli is named for his grandmother, Pasqualina Pellegrini, from Avellino, Italy, who raised him from a young age and shaped the man he became.

“She taught me loyalty. She taught me respect. And she taught me family value,” Iarusso said.

Raised in an old-fashioned Italian household, Iarusso said his grandmother’s faith guided everything.

Her lesson was simple and lasting: “You fear God first, then everything else will follow in line.” That foundation remains at the heart of Nonna Lina’s, where Iarusso works to serve every customer with warmth, dignity and food that stirs memory.

The deli, operating with the help of store manager Melissa Cruz, has quickly become a familiar stop for customers craving the flavors of New York. Iarusso said many guests walk in and immediately feel transported — back to the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, North Jersey or Connecticut, back to neighborhood delis where fresh bread, pastries and friendly conversation were part of daily life.

Some customers, he said, have reacted with tears of joy.

“They made me feel like I’m back home,” he said customers often tell him.

Nonna Lina’s specializes in heroes, not subs, hoagies or grinders. Its signature sandwich, the Italian Vero, is a nod to both New York tradition and its new Florida home. The deli brings in semolina bread from Staten Island, including twisted loaves, long loaves, hero rolls and hearty meat bread stuffed with pepperoni, salami and cheese. Iarusso also brought back old-style Kaiser rolls, the kind he remembers from childhood, crisp and golden outside, soft and satisfying inside.

The cases are filled with indulgent Italian and New York favorites, including cannolis, eclairs, Napoleons, black-and-white cookies, crumb cakes and Junior’s cheesecakes from Brooklyn. Cannolis are among the deli’s biggest draws, served either “Florida style” or “Bronx style,” finished with chocolate chips and powdered sugar.

Behind the counter, old family recipes still matter. Iarusso makes his grandmother’s Bolognese sauce and handmade pasta, honoring the way she cooked — by eye, never with measuring cups. The deli also offers delicious homemade potato salad, chicken salad, meatballs made with fresh parsley and basil, antipasto and seasonal specialties such as anise cookies and honey balls.

Iarusso said he researched Vero Beach before opening and found a community that would understand what he was trying to build. Now, he sees the deli as part of that community’s fabric.

“I couldn’t have picked a better city,” he said. “It’s home.”

Phone orders are welcomed, and delivery is available for larger orders. For Iarusso, every sandwich, pastry and greeting carries the same mission: respect, quality and a smile.

Nonna Lina’s Italian Market, Deli & Bakery is located at 2950 9 Street SW in Vero Beach near the new Aldi. You can call in your order at 772-492-8772 and find them on Facebook and Instagram.