Meet Laura Carlino: The Woman in the Black Jacket

Dear Fellow Foodie,

We decided to throw it back to a young Laura Carlino for throwback Thursday. While many know her as the smiley face behind the counter or the loud voice booming around the corner, not many know her history with our markets. 

I decided to sit down with Laura and ask her questions that I’ve heard over the years and those that I always wanted to know but never got around to asking. 

Laura Carlino also happens to be my mom. I sat down with her the other day after much coaxing on my part, and she seemed to genuinely enjoy answering my questions despite her earlier huffing and puffing. She also heavily relied on my dad to help her answer questions that she couldn’t think of or remember, which was a beautiful thing to see as their child. My dad is Pat Carlino, child of Mama, and Nicola Carlino, the creators of Carlino’s. With that said, I am proud to introduce you to my mom, Laura. 

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Tuesday, February 22, 2022, 3:30 pm

*My questions and thoughts will be in Italics, while my mom’s answers will be in regular font. 

I started easy. What is your relation to the family, and when did you begin working for the store? She looked at me exasperated and laughing and answered, “You know!” and I had to remind her I was Barbara Walters and not her daughter. 

“I am Pat Carlino’s wife. I began working for the store at 19 years old while attending Villanova University at night. I started working at the front counter running the register, and then eventually, was promoted to helping your grandfather make homemade pasta. I, then, was promoted to helping Mama make meatballs and pasta salads. We opened a small store in the Downingtown farmer’s market about a year later, where I worked Friday-Sunday with the family. We worked there until the commute was just too draining, and we started expanding the Ardmore store.” 

Today, my mom is a jack of all trades and can regularly be found at either market. You cannot miss her with her infectious smile, loud laughter, and black jacket. 

Why did you start working at the store? 

“I don’t know. I think I honestly needed the money for school. My mom worked in housekeeping at Villanova, so we needed the extra money, and I was happy to help. I started working in Ardmore part-time, but eventually, I realized how much I loved being there with everyone, and I just never left.” 

Did you ever think that the stores would grow this big, especially at the beginning? Or that there would even be a “stores” plural? 

“Absolutely not. I could see that more and more people loved our food and wanted more variety, and every time we made something new, it was always well-received. We kept adding more stuff to our repertoire, and it became more popular slowly, but I never expected it to become what it is today. It is truly the most beautiful thing to see how far we’ve come.”

What is one story about working here that you will never forget? 

When I asked my mom this, she started immediately laughing, and I could see the wheels in her mind turning. Where to even begin? 

“One year, before we did the bigger expansion in Ardmore, there were so many people in the store. I was so worried that the old floor would collapse, so I ran to dad and told him that we had to close the doors immediately! We closed it to keep it at a minimum, and it ended up being fine, but I was losing my mind. After that day, I looked at your dad and told him that the next thing we had to do was reinforce the floors. No one was going to fall through the floor if I could help it.” 

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Okay, let’s move into some more fun questions. 

What recipes that we know and love in the stores are ones that you created? 

She had a proud twinkle in her eyes as she spoke. “I created the caesar salad dressing and the apple cake. I had worked on those recipes religiously to make them perfect, and Mama liked them. I always really liked apple cake, and I wanted to make my own. I came up with a recipe that I thought turned out good, and Mama added her little touches, and it became what it is today. Those are two of the biggest ones, but there are definitely others.” 

What is something you are proud of? It doesn’t need to be about the store; it can be about anything. 

“I don’t want to sound conceited, but I am so proud to be a Carlino and to carry this last name with me. It gives me so much joy to know that so many people love our stores as much as we do, and it makes it all well worth the stress and everyday occurrences.” 

What is one thing you never want to forget? 

My mom took a moment to ponder and then looked at my dad and asked, “what is one thing I don’t want to forget?” My dad looked at her with all sincerity and said, “me.” They both started laughing together, and my mom turned to me and said,

“Your dad. It’s true, though. I never want to forget working side by side with your dad since I was 19. That is not something everyone gets to experience, and it usually never ends well, but it works for us. We balance each other out. He keeps me sane, and I keep him organized. I also love that I get to work with my kids. It is another thing that is rare and something that I’ll forever cherish.” 

If you had to have one last meal on earth, what would it be? 

Without a single beat, she replied, “Eggplant parmesan. From our store, of course.” 

Lastly, what is one thing you wish more people knew about you? 

Once again, she looked towards my dad and asked what she wanted people to know about her, and he responded with, “that you actually do enjoy cooking” She nodded and added, “That is very true. I don’t get to cook at the store anymore because I have so many other things to do, but it makes me so happy whenever I cook at home. I do love cooking, especially when I get the time.” 

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In Conclusion

We ended our interview, and I felt that I knew my mom in a different light. She is no longer the 19-year-old girl running the loud cash register, but she still holds that girl within her spirit. The spark of young Laura is readily apparent when she steps into the store and sees everything that her family created. I say her family because she has been a part of the Carlino family since she stepped foot within those doors in the early 80s. 

I ask you, dear foodie, to comment below a memory of Laura Carlino that you remember and love if you have one. If you do not have one, let me know a memory about your mother that has stuck with you through the years. I find that there is always more to learn about those whom we assume we know everything about. 

Your Friend,
Nadia Carlino

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