Photo
by PETE WILSON
Joe’s
Pizza & Italian Foods in Sullivan celebrated its 10th year in business last
week. Posing for a photo are from left, staff Annie Clark, Taylor Gadberry,
Kaitlin Neyhart, Jennifer Mattern, Haylie James, owners Oni and Nora Leone, and
their children Salvatore and Giuseppe.
Joe’s
Pizza celebrates 10 years in Sullivan County
By
PETE WILSON
Native
Sicilian Joe Cucinella may not be a household name in Sullivan County, but his
traditional Italian recipes have been a local favorite for a decade.
He’s
the “Joe” behind Joe’s Pizza & Italian Foods in Sullivan, and his
daughter, Nora, and her husband, Oni, own and operate the family business on
North Section Street.
Joe’s
celebrated its 10th anniversary this weekend by honoring the customers who’ve
contributed to its success. Patrons enjoyed discounted food and even free cake
during the three-day celebration.
“Every
year we’ve noticed that our business has grown and everyday persistence in a
small community is a success,” Nora said. “We certainly feel more confident
after ten years.”
Nora
and Oni were married six months before opening Joe’s — a short time later
their oldest son, Salvatore, was born. The nine-year-old now has a younger
brother Giuseppe, 5, and the owners say the oldest has ambitions to run the
show.
“He
wants to take over one day. He has already started bussing tables and taking
drinks,” Nora says.
Joe’s
began with five employees, and now has a dozen on its payroll. The owners also
purchased their current location, in the building that originally housed a
Hook’s drugstore among other business. They have also steadily expanded their
menu and started a delivery service during its tenure.
Opportunities
to increase business, like a recent weekend’s youth basketball tournament
across the street at Sullivan High School, have been met by the Leones with a
willingness to alter their schedule to accomodate potential customers.
“We
also have a bigger clientele now,” Nora said. “We have people come in from
Brazil, Terre Haute, West York (Ill.). We also have a lot of repeat
customers.”
Nora
said the loyalty comes from the respect their employees give to each patron.
They also worked hard at creating a dining environment that makes customers feel
at home.
“We
know who will be coming in for lunch, some down to what they’ll drink and what
they are going to order,” she said. “We treat them like family and they just
feel like they’re at home. It’s kind of like “Cheers,” where everybody
knows your name.”
Ups
and downs in the economy, including the recent downturn, haven’t had a big
effect on the eatery’s business, as the coal-based local economy has always
been somewhat stressed.
“I
really don’t think there has been any lows,” Nora said.
Cucinella
started Joe’s 40 years ago in nearby Robinson. Since then, the family business
has expanded into the neighboring Illinois towns of Newton and Lawrenceville.
But the Leones say they’re happy they came to the Hoosier State, and Sullivan
in particular.
“The
community has been great to us. We couldn’t have asked for nicer, more
welcoming people,” Nora said.
11/22/07
Thanksgiving Wally Kings Feed The Family
watch the video
http://mywabashvalley.com/media_player.php?media_id=7946
7/28/07
Hoosier Hooligans ride out
to Joe's with some nice Ducati's
