'They’re Gonna Have to Wheel Me Out of This Place'

Written by Chrissy Cilento, Emmaus High School Senior
Photographs by Chrissy Cilento

Business: Cavaluzzo’s Pasta, Steak and Subs
1328 Chestnut St.
Emmaus
610-965-8070
Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fri. - Sat. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sun. 4 to 8 p.m.
Owner: Gary Cavaluzzo

What inspired you to start this business? 
I was actually a bio major and was going to be a chiropractor, but my choice of chiropractic schools wasn’t a good one. After 2 semesters, I lost heart. So I called up my old boss at this place called Pizza Village where I used to work and I told him I’d like to get together. I ran his shop for about a year, then I decided to start up my own pizza place. 

What you sell? 
New York and Sicilian style pizzas, pasta products, subs and steak sandwiches, and then your usual french fries, pierogies, and all that fried stuff. We make our own breads, doughs and sauces daily.

Why was this business located in Emmaus? 
My first restaurant was a delivery place called Pizza Haven, and I wanted to get away from delivery -- Domino’s and Pizza Hut just arrived on the scene and made it difficult to get delivery guys. I wanted to relocate where I didn’t have to deliver. One of my customers was a general contractor for the landlord of this property, so he recommended this location to me, and I thought, “Why not!”

How long have you been in business? 
26 years here at Cavaluzzo’s; 30 years at Pizza Haven.

What’s the most rewarding part about this business? 
Being my own boss -- I get to shape my own destiny and be in charge of my own finances. 

What's the worst part of this business? 
The tradeoff with being my own boss entails cleaning corners you’d never see -- doing the grunt work. The hours are incredibly hard. If you have your own business, you end up being married to the business. I’m not home. It’s seven days a week -- I don’t know when the week begins or when it ends. 

Where do you hope to see this business in the future? 
I’ve been in this business 26 years, and now I’m on the sunset. I’d like to go another 26 years -- they’re gonna have to wheel me out of this place!

What makes this business different from the competition? 
Me. And by that I mean the fact that this is a mom and pop shop, as opposed to the corporate franchise. This is a family thing; my kids all grew up in here, and it’s different-- more personal. That’s disappearing today and everything is becoming standardized. Standardized isn't my background -- I’m a little bit more relaxed, experienced and consistent. 

What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received? 
I usually don’t ask for advice, but I’ve picked up a lot over my years in business. I’ve learned confidence in your ability is key. When I worked back at Pizza Village I realized I could do everything it would take to own my own business. Once I got my hands into everything and saw I did it well, I was confident that I could do it myself. 

What business advice would you give to someone else? 
If you don’t really like what you’re doing or if you’re only concerned with how much is in the register, you’re dreaming. Go work for someone else. If you only want to work 40 hours a week, go work for someone else. 

Do you have a role model for what you do? 
Joe Giordano, who was my boss at Pizza Village. He took me under his wing when I was in college. I used to pester him with questions, and he would always take the time for me and was nice enough to show me everything. He set the standard for my business. He was always a gentleman and was kind. Thanks to him I realized that you could have your own business and be nice -- not every boss has to be a jerk.

What do you do in your free time? 
I play guitar. I also took up motorcycling again.