By about 7 a.m. on Monday, Anthony De Monte put finishing touches on the display cases at De Monte's Salumeria & Pork Store in West Brighton. Finally, his family's Italian specialty shop is ready for business on its official opening day.

"The response has been great. The whole community has been so welcoming," said DeMonte, pleased with the warm greetings from neighbors in these past few days. Although not fully ready for service on Saturday and Sunday, initial runs of the store's on Italian bread and balls of fresh mozzarella sold out.