Scubla 1921 – Dispensa Friulana returns to the center of Cividale as a grocery store.

In Cividale del Friuli, a key piece of the city's history is reopening its shutters. In the heart of the historic center, at Corso Giuseppe Mazzini 33, the Antica Drogheria Scubla has officially inaugurated a new chapter in its long existence under the name Scubla 1921 – Dispensa Friulana .

Founded in 1880 as Torrefazione Moschioni, which later became Drogheria Scubla in 1921 , the historic shop has been a hub for food and wine culture in the city and the entire Friuli region for over a century. After a period of closure, its reopening was made possible thanks to the new and ambitious entrepreneurial project of Enrico Coser (owner with his family of the renowned Ronco dei Tassi winery in Cormòns and a resident of Cividale by choice), who chose to invest in the roots and commercial identity of the Ducal City.

Between tradition and future: excellence in the workshop

The project was born with a clear identity: to bring the authentic atmosphere of the neighborhood shop back to the heart of the historic center , filling a void left by the disappearance of local grocery stores. But it does so with an advanced, accessible, and extraordinarily curated formula , capable of bringing together the best local products with prized national and international niche products .

The new management aims to blend the store's centuries-old tradition with a contemporary vision of craftsmanship . The shelves and historic spaces of the grocery store—including the main shop, the back room, and the charming underground cellar (often featured in the FAI Days )—have remained as they were and are once again filled with excellent Friulian and other delicacies , and the welcome is the friendly , attentive, and courteous one of the shops of old.

There's an invisible thread that connects the expert gestures of the past to Scubla 1921 – Dispensa Friulana , a place capable of reshaping contemporary taste. It's in the air as you enter this place designed not just for shopping, but for rediscovering the profound value of food . You're welcomed by Federica Comentale (a sommelier and expert on products and food, with over ten years of experience in fine dining, gained both in Italy and abroad at top-tier establishments such as Hiša Franko in Caporetto, Alchemist in Copenhagen, and La Subida in Cormòns) who guides you with skill and passion, drawing on her experience and knowledge of the products. Here, grinding coffee in the old ruby-colored machine isn't, for example, simply automatic, but an ancient ritual that releases intense aromas, a sensorial prelude to what turns out to be a refined showcase of excellence.

The World in a Room: A Map of Spices, Tea, and Coffee

Entering Scubla 1921 means embarking on a geographical and olfactory journey, preparing you for the pleasures of taste. It begins with the original spirit of the grocery store . Its calling card is an extraordinary collection of 130 spices displayed in glass jars on the shelves , destined to grow over time. From age-old salts to rare peppers, to chili peppers from every latitude and more specialized blends, the assortment is designed both to reacquaint diners with the richness of aromas and to satisfy the technical demands of fine dining. The raw materials arrive directly from a renowned laboratory in Milan that selects spices from around the world, collaborating closely with Michelin-starred chefs to ensure the highest quality standards. Alongside the spices, there is an initial selection of 40 fine teas, currently being expanded . For this category, the compass points straight to Hamburg, historically the port and center of excellence for the finest leaves in Europe. The coffees – which underline the link with the original nineteenth-century roasting factory –   they are “homemade”, that is, they are selections from Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia (in addition to the decaffeinated one) created specifically for Scubla 1921 , whose brand they bear on the packaging, by Torrefazione Goriziana .

Geography of Taste: Where Every Product Is Made Better

The philosophy guiding our product selection is based on a simple yet rigorous rule: selecting the best of the local area , but having the courage to source products where tradition and climate make them unsurpassed. Gourmet juices , for example: forget the common commercial juices. Here, we focus on Alto Adige nectars, where the fruit is processed by absolute specialists. The result is a 100% natural product, dense and vibrant. Special attention is paid to the art of pasta making , with a veritable anthology of Italian pasta. Alongside historic and iconic names beloved by gourmets like Famiglia Martelli or Michele Portoghese , we also offer other excellent artisanal products at competitive prices, ensuring convenient and affordable daily shopping. The signature pantry extends to excellent rice varieties - favoring niche varieties such as the Venetian La Fagiana but not neglecting the most famous, such as Acquerello - passing through elite preserves and pickles , such as the renowned Portuguese sardines and artisanal giardiniera prepared fresh. A corner, currently being expanded, is reserved for local and non-local oils , with a dozen different types of salts and a dozen vinegars. And then jams, compotes, honeys, biscuits, chocolates, creams and other niche products that are gradually expanding and will rotate over time, and an interesting selection of grappas and spirits . Finally, there is the fresh produce which will have a stimulating rotation. Alongside cured meats and dairy products from the best regional producers , the cheese supplier is the Piedmontese La Casera of Eros Buratti , one of the most highly regarded refiners and selectors in Italy.   The shop regularly stocks the store with fresh produce, such as goat cheese with fruit, Robiola di Roccaverano, and other sought-after and hard-to-find products in Friuli. Despite the focus on food, there's no shortage of wines , a carefully curated selection of the best of Friuli Venezia Giulia, including interesting Italian and international labels.

Natural, artisanal, for everyone

In addition to its artisanal signature, the selection embraces a strong focus on contemporary well-being. Great attention is paid to natural and naturally gluten-free products, offering inclusive quality that never compromises taste. And the selection focuses primarily on artisanal products , even from small businesses. Alongside the more exclusive offerings, the shelves also feature quality products at affordable prices, giving customers the opportunity to shop in a convenient and accessible location, given that there are no longer any grocery stores in the historic center.

A cultural outpost for the community

The response from residents and tourists in the first days of reopening was enthusiastic, confirming the community's deep affection for this historic location. More than just a simple retail outlet, the rebirth of Scubla 1921-Dispensa Friulana represents the revitalization of a cultural institution and a way of doing business based on product storytelling and human connection . It's a shining example of how the local economic fabric can be revitalized by focusing on the highest quality and the preservation of historic shops, a valuable asset in promoting tourism in Friuli Venezia Giulia.