Unique Ideas

“Original” Shirts

To emphasize his restaurant’s longevity, Rick created a neon sign for the interior of his restaurant saying Original Cleveland Style Pizza. Rick also printed shirts with the same slogan for purchase by his customers. Thanks to Facebook, the shirts are showing up in customer vacation selfies from as far away as Firenze, Rome, and London!

Rick Rhein, Owner Mama Roberto’s Mentor, OH

Gift Boutique

During the holidays, Roberto Castellanos hosts a “gift boutique” for customers in a corner of his restaurant. Attractively displaying examples of his holiday gift baskets helps spark customer imagination and trigger advance orders! The baskets feature unique items like homemade biscotti, unusual dried pastas, bottles of wine, and other delicacies!

Roberto Castellanos, Owner Gio Cucina Napoletana Encino, CA

Saluting Newborns

In life, parents are proudest when others dote on their newborn! That is why Perry Anastasakis printed “onesies” with his pizzeria’s logo to surprise regulars who are expecting or just had a baby. The parents appreciate the gesture, and cute Instagram pics are soon to follow!

Perry Anastasakis, Owner Famous Pizza Bethel, CT

Student Athletes as Reliable Employees

Finding good help is never easy. But, for restaurateur Fred Filletti, local high school and college student-athletes often make responsible, reliable hires. Fred has found that students active in sports are often more goal-oriented, disciplined about honoring commitments, and accustomed to operating on fixed schedules. When possible, Fred prefers recruiting kids whose families have long been regulars. Watching them grow up helps give him a sense of which ones are truly hard workers. It is not a perfect system, but over many years, it has helped Fred identify and hire some solid “keepers”!

Fred Filletti, Owner Filletti’s Pizza Dundalk, MD

Overcome Holiday No-Shows

Restaurants which are especially busy during the holidays face a pricy dilemma. On the one hand, maxing out reservations during peak demand periods requires turning away potential guests. On the other hand, last-minute cancellations turn valuable table space into lost opportunities. When sought-after reservations for her annual Thanksgiving dinner were abruptly cancelled, restaurateur Anne Rizzoli immediately announced the newly available seats on her restaurant’s Facebook page. Almost as quickly, loyal regulars were calling to snap them up!

Anne Rizzoli, Owner Louie’s California Bistro Santa Barbara, CA