In the heart of the Brenta Dolomites lies Val Rendena, a valley nestled among peaks and mountains in the Province of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. In winter, it's blanketed with snow, and its small villages are postcard-perfect. But in the late 1800s, despite its beauty, Val Rendena was marked by economic hardship. The land was rocky, farming was limited, and there was little industry. Surrounded by natural barriers and cut off from the world, life in the valley was a daily struggle.
It was from this isolated corner of Italy that a unique tradition was born - the arrotini, or knife grinders, known locally as moletas. These were the pioneers of Val Rendena. Unlike the North American image of pioneers in covered wagons heading west, these men set out on foot with grindstones mounted on wooden pushcarts, seeking a better life across Europe and eventually across the globe.
First Generation
Grinder
Pushcarts
(Mola)
First Truck
The first knife grinders migrated to neighboring countries - Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and England. Later, many made the long journey to far-off places like Africa, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the United States, and Canada. In 1893, the first of them arrived in North America.
They disembarked in New York, many settling in tight quarters in Greenwich Village or Brooklyn. Life was hard, especially for those who spoke only Italian. Those who knew German fared slightly better, as many customers were German-speaking. Still, even the smallest earnings were better than the poverty they had left behind.
Through persistence, grit, and long hours, they built a life. Eventually, some were able to return to Italy and bring their families to America. One such trip in 1912 marked the beginning of family migration. After World War I, what had started as a trickle became a steady flow. New arrivals often passed through New York before settling in cities like Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Columbus.
They brought with them their pushcarts (mola) - wooden, hand-built carts topped with a grindstone. These were originally made by a craftsman named Gardell in Giustino. Over time, grinders transitioned to horse-drawn wagons and later, trucks. The Model T Fords allowed them to reach more customers and mount full sharpening setups directly onto the vehicle - thanks in part to skills many had picked up in Germany.
By 1940, most grinders had fully motorized their businesses.
In 1950, Antonio Nella left the town of Carisolo for Canada. He worked in construction on the Toronto Subway to support bringing his family over. By 1951, with his sons Emilio, Gus, and George, Antonio launched a knife sharpening rental business. The model was simple but effective: customers received knives that were swapped weekly for freshly sharpened ones.
This system allowed Nella to grow rapidly - from two trucks to 25 - eventually servicing major cities across Ontario, British Columbia, and Western Canada.
Over the decades, Nella has grown into a leading provider of knife sharpening services and food service equipment. From humble beginnings rooted in Val Rendena’s mountain traditions, Nella now operates across three locations in the Greater Toronto Area, continuing a legacy that spans generations.
Locations:
- 148 Norfinch Dr, Toronto, ON
- 433 Queen St E, Toronto, ON
- 1164 Ellesmere Rd, Scarborough, ON
Nella knife sharpening truck in 1964.