The Mistretta’s crew includes (from left) Kevin Neidich, Jennifer B. Clancy, Jennifer A. Clancy and Bill Clancy.

After visiting their daughter while she was an Ohio University student and then a resident of the area after graduation, Bill and Jennifer A. Clancy fell in love with Athens. But with each visit, they realized there was a void: good Italian food.

So five years ago, the New Jersey family got the idea to open an Italian market and deli. This past summer, Mistretta’s Italian Market became a reality at 9 N. Shafer St.

“All of our visits to Athens turned into our market research,” Bill Clancy says. He left a career as a telecommunications consultant to help launch the business, while his wife gave up her printmaking job.

Mistretta’s is one of several new Athens restaurants, including Avalanche Pizza and Damon’s, both on East State Street; Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar and Dave’s Famous Subs, both on West Union Street; and the Pita Pit on North Court Street.

An upscale market, Mistretta’s offers ingredients for home-cooked masterpieces and a deli stocked with hot carryout dishes. Big sellers include white vegetable lasagna, panini sandwiches, baked artichoke hearts and cannoli cake.

Jennifer B. Clancy, BFA ’93, serves as Mistretta’s manager, while her boyfriend, Kevin Neidich, BSCOM ’98, also is part of the team. Meanwhile, Mom cooks and Dad runs the register and handles marketing.

“It feels good to provide food from home I know I missed when I was a student here,” Jennifer B. Clancy says. “Students from bigger cities are used to more of a variety of foods.”

Jennifer Kirksey Smith, BSJ ’98, is a media specialist with Ohio University Media Services.