By Julie D’Aloiso
I asked Jimmy D’Angelo what is his biggest challenge in the restaurant business? He said “Getting good people”. Once he does get a good employee they become family. His one server Chris has been there 30 years. And one of his chefs, Dan Bean, has been there 25 years. When Jimmy opened his first restaurant he tried to do everything himself. “You can’t do it all your self.” he said. “Finding the right people is tough because kids these days do not want to work.”
When asked what advice he has for someone wanting to get into the restaurant business, he said “Be prepared to be dedicated and spend a lot of time there! You also need to get into it for the right reasons. The money is good but you need to be there for your customers and employees. Treat people right, smile and show your them that you are committed to making it a success.”
When Jimmy was 16 he started working in Yours Truly Restaurant. His Uncle Jim had three restaurants in Fort Wayne Indiana. Jimmy found that he liked working in a restaurant and wanted to start his own. He trained with his Uncle and learned every aspect of the business. He worked 12-15 hours every day learning how to completely run and manage every aspect of the kitchen.
When they opened Casa D’Angelo 30 years ago with Grandma D’Angelo’s recipes in 1989, that was when chain restaurants started popping up. Family restaurants were getting knocked out. To this day, chain restaurants are still everywhere and more are coming, but Casa D’Angelo is still here. According to Jimmy: “They are doing the best that they have ever been!”
15 years ago Jimmy’s brother Paul and wife Donna started D’Angelo’s in Twinsburg. That location is still doing very well. And last year Jimmy and his with Patty started Sherwood Forest Event Center in Tinkers Creek in July of 2018.
So now with all three locations in this area, tried and true family recipes, they have something for everyone. If you are having a party of 10 or 1000, they got you covered!
Happy 30th Anniversary Casa D’Angelo’s!
For more information:
Sherwood Forest Party Center in Tinker’s Creek
