In 1979 Frank Speciale bought Gino’s Pizzeria & Ristorante in Williston Park, after coming to America from Sicily only seven years before.
Two years later Speciale moved to Williston Park from Queens, and has resided there ever since.
“When I came to Long Island the first day I stopped at this place, I just fell in love with the village,” said Speciale, who moved to Williston Park after her bought Gino’s. “The people in this village are like one big family where everyone knows each other. There is a lot of very nice people here who I respect, and they respect me.”
Speciale went on to become a member of the Chamber of Commerce of the Willistons and a member of the Rotary Club of Williston Park, and was honored last week in part, for his success with the restaurant by the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce as the businessperson of the year from Williston Park.
But Speciale and his family did not attend the breakfast held at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury by the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce, an umbrella organization that acts as a spokesperson for more than 40 chambers of commerce in Nassau County.
Instead he was paying his respects an mourn the death of his brother, Antinino.
Antinino was the oldest of six children, and the first of his family to come to America in 1970. He opened up his own pizzeria in 1977 in Dumont, NJ where he raised two children and was married to his wife for more than 50 years.
“He worked hard to bring his brothers and sisters here,” Speciale said. “He was a big loving family man, and more than a brother to me. He was my best friend and a father figure to me.
“I felt very good about winning the award,” Speciale said in discussing the award. “I want to thank the Rotary Club, and thank all the people in the village. I just want to thank everybody. I am very proud and I love everyone who I’ve been able to help over the years. The Rotary Club, chamber of commerce, and village means a lot to me.”
The businessperson of the year award is given to a local business person, usually somebody in the chamber to receive designation of small businessperson of the year from their town based on contributions to chamber, business climate, to civic, and charitable work.
Speciale came from Sicily more than 40 years ago. He opened up a second Gino’s Pizzeria in Mineola in 1993, but sold it 10 years ago to attend to his sick wife and young children.
Speciale’s wife is also from Sicily and he has two children, John and Jerry.
In the past Speciale used to help on the Williston Day Fair committee, but he said once he got a bit older, it was too much work for him to do.
Gino’s was originally Joanne’s Gourmet Pizzeria, and was sold to another owner who in turn sold it 13 months later to Speciale. The pizzeria started out a big shaky at first, but after remaining in Williston Park for the last 33 years the restaurant shows no signs of stopping.
“When we first started the restaurant, I was working seven days a week,” Speciale said. “I was losing my mind at one point, and as for how many hours I was working, forget about it.”
Even as owner of the restaurant, Speciale said he is still involved in the day-to-day operations helping to serve up speciality pizza’s and Italian dishes such as calamari marinara, chicken parmigiana, and recently added new dishes such as grilled calamari salad, penne with broccoli rabe, sausage and tilapia oreganta. Gino’s Ristorante is located on 628 Willis Ave. in Williston Park.
As for helping in the community, Gino’s Pizzeria & Ristorante used to sponsor around three to four little league baseball teams.
Winning small businessman of the year has not made Speciale any less humble, as he said he can’t speak for those who he thinks appreciates his work.
“I try to treat the people right,” Speciale said. “I can’t say myself that I treat everyone right, but I try. If you treat people right it will keep you in business, especially when you’re dealing with the public. I’ve appreciated all the help from the mayors in this village over the years and there are good people who run it right now.”
Speciale said his sons will take over the business when he retires.
