Mathallen 10 years: Via Italia
October 2022 marks 10 years since Oslo got its very first food hall. On Vulkan, an old industrial area right by the Akerselva River in Løkka, Mathallen Oslo was to become a cornerstone in the development of a completely new city within the city. Now, 10 years later, Mathallen Oslo has become a shopping center, meeting place, workplace and tourist attraction for thousands of people.
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary, we have had a chat with some of these people, more specifically a small selection of our beautiful birthday children.
The whole Mathallens Mamma Italia
Why Mathallen?
After we had lived in Italy for a year, I had a desire to be able to establish a collaboration and work with Italy / Norway. Our best friends run a farm in Italy with pigs, corn, sheep, etc. and were the driving force behind my opening a grocery store in Oslo. When I heard that a Food Hall was going to open in Oslo, I asked for a meeting with Aspelin Ramm and now I have been running a store here for 10 years. This has at times been a family project where I have worked full time while the rest of the family has helped and contributed with everything from extra shifts to warehouse employees.
What dish have you sold the most of over the years?
Via Italia has evolved from being a store with organic products to becoming a pasta bar. We make fresh pasta every day and serve these to satisfied customers who want to eat with us, at Torget or take the dish home with them. We have sold over 11 pasta dishes in the first half of 000, and our absolute best seller is pasta carbonara.
What is your Mathallen favorite?
My absolute Mathallen favorite is The Cupcakes & Pie Co - I can't walk into that shop without taking a sweet treat with me.
You experience quite a bit in 10 years. Are there any memories that stand out?
Many fun experiences in these years - lots of celebrity visits which is always fun - fun with starstruck employees who can't get a word out.... An employee who was lying on the floor with a bleeding finger while we were serving customers, of course losing pasta dishes in customers' laps, Nadia Hasnaoui from NRK used the store to check if the customers reacted to who they were served by... There have been some moments!
