Comments on: Last Days At K C Continental Stores

By: Spike Geilinger

Spike Geilinger — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 18:52:14 +0000

We lived in Keystone Crescent for several years in the 80’s/90’s and were in Leo’s all the time. His shop was a haven for the remains of the community known as ‘little Italy’ that used to stretch down to Clerkenwell. I would often walk in to find a couple of his mates chatting in Italian over a Peroni beer which would be hastily hidden from view as he had an off licence and drinks were not supposed to be consumed on the premises.

Sad as I am to see him retire I think he deserves a rest!

By: Ayo abbas

Ayo abbas — Wed, 20 May 2015 13:43:50 +0000

So sad to read this I worked just off the Cally Road about 10 years ago and used to stop in on my way home to buy my finer. Amazing deli and service at reasonable prices. Such a shame London is losing these great little independents at such an alarming rate.

By: jean miche

jean miche — Mon, 18 May 2015 13:34:57 +0000

I just popped out to stock up on parmesan to find my favourite Kings X shop closed. I’ve been buying from Leo for over a decade, and have been dreading this inevitable day.

I am beyond sad to see Leo gone, but wish him a good and deserved retirement.

And I hope that beautiful vintage meat slicer finds a good home. If i’d known he was closing i’d have been tempted to make him an offer.

Ciao Leo!

By: Diana Shelley

Diana Shelley — Thu, 07 May 2015 18:57:27 +0000

End of an era, indeed. At least the Giordanis will be remembered with a street bearing their name on the King’s Cross Central vast, and generally soulless, development. But I’ll miss Leo and Noreena, the parma and panettone, and their inimitable contribution to community life in south Cally.

By: Justine

Justine — Mon, 04 May 2015 08:14:03 +0000

The best baguette, the cutest man, and the most London experience I’ve ever had. I will forever remember this place.

By: David Oxnam

David Oxnam — Sat, 02 May 2015 10:06:53 +0000

When we were first married over 25 years ago, this wonderful little shop was on my route home and was a great place to pick up something interesting which also avoided either of us having to cook ! Leo and his customer.s also stimulated an interest in all things Italian, which I can happily say we have indulged in, in our latter years. A lovely memory not to be forgotten.

By: Andy Parker

Andy Parker — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 16:56:51 +0000

Will be much missed – best stocked deli with reasonable prices to be found in the borough (that big red meat slicer is a ’50s design classic, too). Having grown up around Soho and seen Del Monico’s and the rest eventually go (honourable exceptions being the Lina Stores and Camisa), I can only join in with everybody else’s comments and wish Leo and his wife a happy retirement and to say thank you for all the lovely food…

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 09:18:32 +0000

I used to pass here on the way to a nearby place. A little red white and green on the outside would surely have invited me in. What a shame it’s going. All the very best to Leo and his family.

By: Antony Macer

Antony Macer — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 22:18:13 +0000

Maybe Leon and/or his wife will remember the delicatessen shop in Tavistock Place back in the early sixties. As a newcomer to Bloomsbury and with new-found freedom from ‘Mum’s cooking’, the proprietors were hugely influential in my migration from ‘meat and two veg’ cooking to, shall we simply call it, richer fare?! ‘Have you tried this?’ was a frequent question asked of me…
From the comment about the English being more savvy than the modern Italian customer, it seems the Giordiani have done too good a job!
My sincere thanks to all of his kind. I hope to visit the shop before it is closed, for no other reason to remind myself by the sights and smells of the goods on offer of how the search started!

By: Charlotte Grandjean

Charlotte Grandjean — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 21:16:17 +0000

Touched by this story….. Happy retirement to Leo from the south of France!