Many people were surprised at the sudden closing of Gannucci's Italian Market at 301 N Central Avenue in West Duluth in August of 2021. Gannucci's was most definitely a one of a kind restaurant in the area offering many items not found anywhere else like Italian Ice, Cannoli and a variety of gourmet pizza's.

According to the Duluth News Tribune "The restaurant and market was established in the mid-1970s as "Conito's Italian Village," and was renamed to "Gannucci's Italian Market" in 2011 to honor the family's great-grandfather, Vito Gannucci." The restaurant had been temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and did not reopen when all of a sudden they announced that they were permanently closing and having a liquidation sale on August 25.

According to FOX21 Gannucci's owner William Kalligher who is 61 years old is charged with sexually assaulting two children. He is facing seven felonies including one count of first degree criminal sexual conduct.

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According to one of the criminal complaints one of his victims who was 9 or 10 at the time of the assault back in 2005 and 2006 was at Kallighers home helping him with a remodeled house when the assault occurred.

The second victim who is a 16 year old female said Kalligher had sexually assaulted her several times between 2018 and 2019 when she was 13 and 14 years old according to a separate criminal complaint. Both victims families had a relationship with Kalligher. His bail is set at $120,000 and his highest charge comes with a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

Apparently numerous allegations had come to light this Summer which seems to correlate with the timing of this long standing business not only shutting down suddenly but liquidating the entire place including the food.

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