Salumeria in Reading Terminal Market to close after 34 years

Salumeria - the Italian deli and sandwich specialist that is one of the longest-running Reading Terminal Market vendors - plans to close with the retirement of owner Ed Sciamanna.

Sciamanna, 66, told me that the last day will be July 31.

The business will close. A market rep said a new vendor has not been signed for the location. (The market reportedly gets three to five applications a week.)

Although Sciamanna had cut his hours to part time about 10 years ago, "the responsibilities and problems with running a business are still there," he said. His health is good, he said.

Competition is keener than ever, while finding qualified employees is difficult.

Sciamanna opened at the market in 1982 after he was laid off from his job with the federal government. "I saw an ad [for a business] in The Inquirer and decided to come down," he said.

Sciamanna had no food experience other than his belief in the concept: quality cheeses, a few specialty items, and sandwiches with creative toppings, including a particularly craveable marinated artichoke spread.