BOSTON – In Boston’s North End, a woman has turned her love of entertainment into a thriving dinner business.
Inspired by Italian upbringing
Aperitivo The Shop is located on Prince Street and is full of hints of Maria Colalancia’s Italian upbringing.
“Every Sunday, Sunday dinner, that was non-negotiable,” Colalancia said. “No matter how busy we were, we always sat at the table or at the table at least once a week. And that was such a special part of my upbringing.”
All items in the store are inspired by her love for good wine, good food and good company. Colalancia’s mission to meet new friends when she moved to Boston from upstate New York a few years ago led to the start of her dinner party series.
“I put together a TikTok, put it on my personal TikTok and it went viral,” Colalancia said. “I had 700 people sign up for this supper club and a few weeks later we hosted the first dinner party. And a year and a half later I came across this space.”
Aperitivo now helps customers plan their own dinner parties. Colalancia was only 27 years old when her journey of opening Aperitivo began and she continues to chronicle the ups and downs of building a small business on TikTok.
“There were definitely nerves, but I think everything just felt like it was meant to be.”
Started as a side job
Aperitivo also happens to be Colancia’s sideshow. She works at Wayfair during the day and spends the rest of her time in the store, greeting customers and purchasing new, unique items.
When asked for her advice for those looking to get a creative idea or passion project off the ground, Colalancia said, “I think what I’ve always struggled with is that I want everything to be perfect and I want everything to be perfect is.” I have a plan and I want to think about it. And you have to do all those things, but it also has to be a healthy amount of just being pushed off the edge and just doing it.”
