Page 8 - Italian American Herald - July 2019

8 ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM | JULY 2019 ITALIAN-AMERICANHERALD
COMMERCIO
Giorgi Kitchens and Nicola Pizza win Family Owned Business Awards
By Al Kemp
Two of Delaware’s Italian-American-owned businesses won top honors in their size categories at the Delaware Business Times’ fifth annual Family Owned Business Awards.
Giorgi Kitchens in Wilmington was named the winner in the “medium-sized” business-size category, and Nicola Pizza in Rehoboth Beach won in the “large business” category at the award ceremony.
Family-owned businesses in four size categories were chosen from a field of 23 honorees that included businesses of all varieties, from all over the state.
More than 300 people attended the event May 21 at DuPont Country Club, where keynote speaker Ben duPont regaled them with stories about turning points for his family’s business dating back to the late 1700s. He also offered advice to the younger generations present, urging them to focus on succession planning, understanding interfamily dynamics, and
the importance of software on their businesses.
Delaware Business Times Publisher Rob Martinelli, president of Today Media, whose publications include Delaware Today and Main Line Today as well as Delaware Valley Italian-American Herald, said the Family Owned Business Awards have special meaning for him, because he himself is among the second generation in his family carrying on a business started by his father Angelo Martinelli.
“This particular event is special because
we celebrate the rarity of the family-owned business,” Martinelli said. “Only about 30% of family-owned businesses make it to thesecondgeneration. Allthebusinesses in this room have at least made it to that point, with three at more than 100 years inbusiness. Icanrelatetothehardwork, struggles and rewards to transition a family- owned business to the second generation. Today Media is a second-generation family- owned business with members of the third generation working as well.”
THE GIORGI STORY
In 1960, Joseph Giorgi Sr. and his brother Pete borrowed $500 from their father and used the money to open a remodeling business called Giorgi Kitchens.
Nearly 60 years later, the second and third generations of the family have built Giorgi into one of the most prestigious design firms in the region, managed by Joseph Giorgi’s sons, Joseph Jr. and Thomas.
With the help of a professional design team, Giorgi Kitchens & Designs produces various styles of kitchens, baths and
fitted furniture — creating the rooms of its clients’ dreams from the company’s design showroom on Philadelphia Pike in Wilmington.
At Giorgi, family members enter the business usually from the ground up, with in-shop craftsmanship taught by senior installers. In the showroom, some vendor training may be required to ensure the best
With the help of a professional design team, Giorgi Kitchens & Designs produces various styles of kitchens, baths and fitted furniture — creating the rooms of its clients’ dreams from the company’s design showroom on Philadelphia Pike in Wilmington.
informationabouttheproducts. Product additions and withdrawals are discussed within the entire design team with a final decision by the president after input from the group.
Ellen Cheever, CMKBD, ASID, CAPS,
a world-renowned designer and wife of Pete Sr. often collaborates with the talented members of the Giorgi Kitchens & Designs’ team when working on both new home and remodel projects across the country.
THE NICOLA PIZZA STORY
Rehoboth Beach has a reputation for being something of a playground for Washington power brokers and other celebrities, so it’s no surprise that Nicola Pizza has been a dining destination for Dave Grohl, Kathie Lee Gifford, Chelsea Clinton, Joe Biden, Linda Carter (aka Wonder Woman), and Jon Bernthal.
It’sanimpressiveclaimtofamefora business that Nick Caggiano and Joan Caggiano started in 1971, selling homemade pizzas out of their kitchen to pay hospital bills.
At Nicola, Second Vice President Kelly Munyan says quality and customer service are at the heart of the company’s success. “We never freeze our dough and mix it fresh on the premises every day. In fact, even though we are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas, we have a cook who comes in just to mix for the next day to ensure its freshness.”
Munyan says Nicola Pizza, located on North First Street a block from the sand, wants to feel like the “Cheers” of Rehoboth Beach, and particularly strives to have a customer “tell a friend” about the pizzeria.
Final decisions or big changes still go through Nick Sr., even at age 82. Like many of the FOBA honorees, family members learn all aspects of each job at the restaurant
Thomas (left) and Joseph Giorgi Jr. of Giorgi Kitchens & Designs. | PHOTO BY LUIGI CIUFFETELLI