A NEW deli is set to open in Bruntsfield, offering “big Italian sandwiches crafted with passion”, in one of the former sites of the now-liquidated Bross Bagels.
The Italian deli, called Toscano, will open next month and will take inspiration from a similar eatery over in Italy.
The sandwich shop takes the space of the now-closed Bross Bagels, which operated in four locations across the city before its owner was forced to purchase assets with an alleged debt of £1m.
The Bruntsfield outlet was the last to close, quietly shutting its doors last year, now to be replaced by another sandwich bar hoping to join the ranks of the area’s popular cafes and delis.
Speaking to the Edinburgh Evening News, owners said they will take on the style of “legendary” Florentine sandwich shop, All’antico Vinaio, which has now opened venues in Beverly Hills and New York.
The family-run business gets its popularity from its fresh ingredients and homemade Tuscan schiacciata bread, and has been named the “home of the world’s best sandwiches” by Saveur magazine.
The owners of Toscano went on to say: “We noticed there was an opportunity to open a professional outfit in the Italian sandwich offering, with many entrepreneurs opening Italian sandwich shops on a low budget, watering down the potential of an All’Antico Vinaio style shop, that is where we come in.”
The location was home to Bross Bagels, an Edinburgh chain led by founder Laura Bross, who was forced to close its doors last year after accumulating debts of up to £1m.
Laura was also forced to admit that stakeholders who donated up to £150,000 to her crowdfunding appeal would likely not see a penny of the money back.
The Edinburgh Reporter revealed that some suppliers and unsecured creditors were also owed around £280,000, and HMRC were due around £635,000 in unpaid taxes, national insurance, and VAT.
Laura purchased the Bross Bagels Ltd assets for £18,000 just one day before liquidators were set to dissolve the company.
A new company was formed, called Hot Mama Bagel Ltd, which allowed the stores to continue selling their signature sandwiches until the Portobello flagship closed its doors in July 2024.
It is unclear when the Bruntsfield store eventually shut down, but the popular location now holds potential again as Tuscano prepares for its opening in March.