01 March 2019

"CHI SURID MIA, NEGOSI AL VERSA MIA"

"Chi surid mia, negosi al versa mia" is a typical saying of the city of Rivalta that means ‘it’s no use to set up a company if you can’t be positive towards your customers’. And this wasn’t evidently the case of Giovanni Storti, who opened in Rivalta sul Mincio in the 30s a well-known deli and grocery store. At that time all economic activities in Rivalta were based on fishing, manipulation of canes as well as silkworms at the spinning mill. The store becomes rapidly a reference point for the city and the surroundings, not only for the excellent quality of the products, but also for the courtesy and the kindness of Giovanni. Even today some people can witness his generosity towards several impoverished families. Consider that in those times, credit cards and ATM’s hadn’t been invented and economical resources were very low. So, food purchases were noted onto a sort of ‘food record book’ and the debts were paid when better times allowed it. Giovanni did sometimes actually forget to note those purchases on the book making his wife Egle very angry but gaining at the same time the gratitude of many others.