Part Two: "Buy it"

Those first few months at the variety store brought about many changes that would set the tone for what direction "T's" would take. We opened selling coffee, doughnuts, soda, lottery, and many other convenience store staples.  Very little food was served, a few grinders and mostly bought pastries.  I became bored and a bit restless and my mind started grinding.  "What else can we serve?"   Spinach pies and Pizza strips came to mind, .but we had no ovens to cook them in.  So we walked to my mom and dad 's house in the back yard and cooked 6 spinach pies and 8 pizza strips daily in their oven.  Dad 's pizza sauce recipe (still being used) and Joe D 's spinach pie recipe (a great start) were the beginning of a business growth that neither Tina or I had ever imagined.  Trial and error!  My theory was "If you make it they will eat it."  Calzone were introduced at "T 's Variety" a short time later after a visit to my best friend Bob 's home and a taste of his mom 's delicacies.   At the time not many places were serving the bread dough specialties and we all , including the regulars,  jousted about the name and the content of the calzone.  As I think back at the Variety store days, those early days, I smile, chuckle and really feel blessed!

Business grew at the Budlong road location for four years.  Our staff grew and Dad, a bread baker, being part of our staff allowed our food offerings to become diversified.  Catering to homes and businesses was added in 1983 and wouldn't you know it, that flourished.  Three years and two kids later we decided it was time to expand. 

The search for another location was a brief one.  The ad read,  "For sale, Park Ave, parking for 11 cars, 1000 sq ft."  After seeing the location and deliberating for a couple of minutes we signed a sales agreement, contingent upon bank financing.  Finding a bank to fund the project was more difficult than we had anticipated.  If not for another good friend, Nicky D., and his recommendation to a bank,  the whole deal might have fallen through.  Thank you, Nick. 

After 6 weeks of knocking down walls,  calling equipment companies, city hall visits, painting, paving, menuing and hiring staff, "T 's on Park Ave" opened to a roaring crowd of 3 people.  Elaine from the variety store and Joannie with her sister were waiting at the door.  The concept was supposed to be a larger T 's Variety with tables and chairs.... total "Take Out" and counter service.  We had no waitresses, no china or silverware, and no dishwashers.  With-in a week a major shift in concept occurred,  full service breakfast and lunch.  AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!   Joannie was hired as our first waitress,  she actually had no experience although she told me she did.  She still works here at T 's.  How did she put up with me all of these years?  The first year was a learning experience in hiring and training staff.  Consistency?  Well, it took some time, but we finally got it down.  Our Catering Business (anchored by Carmino) and the Variety Store (managed by brother Joe) kept us afloat while we worked out the kinks at Park Ave.  By 1988 and 1989, T 's became better known as T 's Restaurant and Catering, with a thriving breakfast, lunch and catering business.  At this time we decided to sell the Variety Store to brother Joe, who, with his wife continue the tradition today.

Time-Line 1990:  T 's enters the world of lunch delivery, recognizing the demand of our busy customers.  "Good Food Fast" was always a trademark of T 's and now you could have it delivered.  A feather in our cap is that we began delivery before most major chains and larger restaurants.  This change became another success beyond our imagination.  Always on the cutting edge,  T 's began to again expand their menu to accomodate the call for healthier offerings.  Grilled chickens, veggie pockets, expanded soup choices as well as fresh fruits were brought on board. 

Time-Line 1991,  Tina and I finally reached our goals, everything was running smoothly, so we thought!   Enter Bruce Sundlun and the RISDIC banking Crisis.  Yes, our bank was closed. Yes, all of our revenues are tied up.  Discouraged?  Yes!  Give up?  NO!  The state was in an uproar, and so was I.  As we continued to service our customers with great food and service,  T 's got involved in community political forums at our Park Ave location.  With the help of a local journalist Anna M., we held debates and discussions with the top local politicians.  It was a highly energized time here at T 's.  Weekly write-ups in the Cranston Herald, continued growth, local art shows and a windfall of recognition.  Channel 10 did a 2 minute spot on their 6 pm news cast featuring T 's and my art dealing with the crisis. "Art Depco" as we called it.  That was pretty exciting seeing our little place and our customers interviewed on TV. 

Another risky,  but necessary decision was our choice to make T 's the first totally non-smoking breakfast and lunch establishment in the city of Cranston.  This again was done well before all of the major chains in our community.  This change actually back-fired in the short term affecting our early morning business especially.  Being such a new concept at the time,  people rebelled causing a substantial downturn in revenues.  Discouraged?  Yes.  Give up  Well, you know the rest of the story.