Ferrara’s Imported Foods Closes After 67 Years in Mayfield Heights

Third-generation owner John Ferrara says the timing was right as the beloved East Side institution quietly shut its doors this week.

by Douglas Trattner | Jun. 24, 2026 | 10:30 AM

Photographed by Douglas Trattner

Would-be shoppers and people on their lunch breaks hoping to score an Italian beef sandwich were met by locked doors at Ferrara’s Imported Foods at 5750 Mayfield Road in Mayfield Heights on Tuesday. Nobody within the small crowd knew anything about the sudden and wholly unexpected closure of the imported foods store that has been in existence since 1959.

But third-generation owner John Ferrara confirmed to media yesterday afternoon that the institution has permanently shuttered, telling Cleveland 19 News, “I’m thankful for the support of the community all those years. But, it was just time. It was the right time for me.”

Brothers Alfred and Joe Ferrara opened Ferrara’s Imported Foods 67 years ago. It was one of the best places to go on Cleveland’s east side to stock up on imported foods and products from Italy, freshly baked breads and pastries, and some of the best sandwiches and Sicilian pizza around.

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Douglas Trattner

For 25 years, Douglas Trattner has worked as a full-time freelance writer, editor and author. His work as co-author on Michael Symon's cookbooks have earned him four New York Times Best-Selling Author honors, while his longstanding role as Scene dining editor has garnered awards of its own.