What brought me to the Italian Centre Shop? Word of mouth. I heard they had some produce that wasn't available elsewhere that week. So, I drove straight over to pick up a couple of flats.
The store is big - bigger than any other specialty stores that I've been in Calgary (They have similar stores in Edmonton). This means the selection is big, too. I wandered the dry aisles in awe of many brands I had never seen - and I am an avid food shopper. My favourite items to browse were the olive oil and balsamic vinegars. The pricing and packaging vary and that's what makes it so fun picking some out.
(Sidebar: I will never be able to justify buying some of these vinegars without trying them - Sampling of some of the more unique items in the store would be proactive! Maybe they do offer samples, but there wasn't anything like that the day I was in).
There is a good selection of freshly prepared foods and baking, and this seemed to be where the bulk of the customers were hanging out. The store was definitely busy (mostly in the small sit down eating area), but there was no line at the general grocery cashier when I was ready to pay for my purchases.
I wouldn't say the staff was unfriendly, exactly, but while I was wandering the aisles, nobody inquired as to what I was looking for or if I needed help. Also, many items were imported, so that could explain the pricey items - which were many! I will have to do some comparison shopping and report back...