Off the Wheel brings Italian specialties, village convenience to Bellport

A shared love of Italian food, years spent dreaming about opening a business together and a desire to fill a gap in Bellport Village have come together with the opening of Off the Wheel, a new specialty market featuring imported meats, cheeses and prepared foods.

Jennifer and Collin Preziosi (pictured) recently opened the market at 139 S. Country Road, transforming a longtime gallery and former bookstore into a destination for food lovers in the heart of the village.

The husband-and-wife team said the concept grew out of their time studying in Italy and their appreciation for the country’s fresh ingredients and simple approach to cooking.

“We both did a semester in Italy,” Jennifer said. “He went to culinary school and spent six months in Calabria, and I studied in Florence. We just fell in love with the food there — how fresh everything is and the way they prepare it. We have so much love in our hearts for Italian food.”

The couple, who have worked in the food and hospitality industries for years, had long envisioned opening a business together. After considering several larger locations, they realized the perfect spot had been in their hometown all along.

“We’ve always known we wanted to do something,” Jennifer said. “When we looked at this location, we were just like, ‘Okay, I think this is it.'”

The market also arrives at a time when many Bellport residents have been looking for more convenient grocery and specialty food options following the closure of two separate and longtime IGA grocer locations in the village in (somewhat) recent years.

“I’ve heard a lot of people in town say, ‘We’re so excited you’re here. I don’t have to drive anymore,'” Jennifer said. “People like having that hometown convenience.”

Inside, shoppers will find about 15 varieties of cured meats and roughly 40 cheeses, many imported from Italy and elsewhere in Europe. The selection continues to evolve based on customer requests.

“A lot of our meats and cheeses are imported,” Jennifer said. “We try to make sure that if people are looking for something specific, we can get it for them.”

Off the Wheel also offers a rotating selection of butcher cuts, including steaks, burgers, hot dogs, sausages and ribs, along with prepared meals and specialty grocery items. Fresh bread arrives daily, including ciabatta, focaccia, baguettes and sourdough loaves.

Customers can also order sandwiches built with the shop’s imported meats and cheeses or take home prepared dishes such as eggplant parmesan, short ribs with mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese.

While the focus is on specialty foods rather than sit-down dining, the owners have plans to make the space a community gathering spot as well. The building’s lower level will eventually host fresh ravioli-making workshops, painting nights, sewing classes and family-friendly activities.

“I want to do things for moms and kids, especially in the summertime,” Jennifer said.

The building’s artistic roots will also remain part of the experience. Once home to a well-known gallery, the space still displays artwork and will continue hosting creative programming.

“I like incorporating that it was a gallery and keeping that concept,” Jennifer said.

After receiving the keys last October, the couple spent months renovating the space. Their original goal was to open before Christmas, but the project quickly became more ambitious than they anticipated.

“It’s been a long six months,” Jennifer said with a laugh.

Now that the doors are open, the Preziosis hope customers come not only for the food, but for the conversation.

“We’re happy food people,” Jennifer said. “We like talking about food and explaining things to people. We’re really open to what people want. I’d say reasonably priced and good food.”

Off the Wheel is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

See what’s in store

Photos by Julianne Mosher