Joe / Joe Fresta
This book is based on a true story, about a group of second-generation Italian /Sicilian kids from The Hill in South St. Louis, and their dream of building a successful chain of Italian restaurants. They had no money in the beginning, but it did not stop them from embarking on a roller coaster path to success.They faced one trauma after another, survived the early tragic death of one of the founders, and took on heavy debt to buy out the other original founder. They survived the 1980s when the prime rate reached a record high of 20 per cent, barley keeping the doors open, and struggled for two years.Two other partners relinquished their ownership to be relieved from the debt at the bank, leaving the business to three partners, Joe Fresta, John Ferrara, and Kim Tucci. That trio never lost hope, nor the ’Dream’. Throwing in the towel was not to be. Negative was not part of their vocabulary. The desire to succeed, overcame all the traumas, recessions, and financial difficulties. The business survived even the untimely death of their leader John Ferrara, and Kim Tucci’s battle with cancer, and his passing.And then Covid, shutting down the day-to-day operation in 2020; reopening with 25 percent seating capacity. Perhaps survivor of the fittest was coined for this story, it seemed to hang over the business, like a dark cloud on a rainy day in April. And then it was down to one, Joe Fresta outlived his partners and all the traumas, and runs the business today, as if it was ordained from the beginning, fifty years ago.
