Family, loyal employees keep restaurant running strong

Ozaukee Economic Development recently named Messina Italian Restaurant & Lounge in Saukville its Small Business of the Year.

“I had no idea we were nominated. It’s nice to be recognized,” owner Carmelo Raffaele said. “We come to work, do our job and try the best we can to stay consistent.”

OED Executive Director Kathleen Cady Schilling said several community members nominated Messina’s. She said the restaurant was noted for its growth in employees and community involvement.  

“Additionally, they were highlighted for their community service. Messina’s has been a great community partner providing free pizza to students, working with the Humane Society, Special Olympics and Advocates of Ozaukee,” Cady Shilling said.

The restaurant at 151 N. Progress Dr. has been in business for 13 years. It’s named after Raffaele’s hometown, Messina, Sicily.

Prior to opening the eatery, Raffaele owned a deli in Cedarburg for eight years.

“There was not much out here in Saukville at the time, so we decided to take a chance,” Raffaele said.

Located near the village’s industrial park, the restaurant “is a destination, not a location,” Raffaele said.

Raffaele started out in the industry when he was 14, working for Beyond the Sea restaurant and Glorioso’s Italian Market on the East Side of Milwaukee. He was also a manager for Pepino’s Italian restaurants in Milwaukee for a number of years and a produce manager for Kohl’s grocery stores.

His wife of 39 years, Leigh, said her husband wanted to open his own restaurant because “he wanted to be his own boss.”

Leigh has been in the hospitality business since she was 8, busing tables for a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Woodstock, Ill.

Raffaele doesn’t characterize his success story as the American dream.

“Everyone wants to be successful, but you never really know what your dreams are. You create your own dreams,” he said, noting he arrived in Milwaukee on Christmas Day in 1963, when he was 11.

For Raffaele, his dream is working with his wife and children, he said.

“Owning a restaurant has good days and bad days, but at least I get to see my family every day,” he said.

Raffaele’s daughter Erica is a bartender and his son Dominic works as a manager.

“The family dynamic is really good. We get along 99% of the time,” Dominic said.

Leigh said working together “has its moments” because a lot of sacrifice is required to run a business day-in, day-out.

“It’s a family business, but it’s hard raising a family in a business like this. We’ve missed a lot,” she said.

In addition to the family, six original employees remain at the restaurant, which opened on March 14, 2006.

“The main people are still here,” Raffaele said, noting there are about 20 full-time and part-time employees at the restaurant.

He credits his staff for the success of the business.

“The reason behind that is I’ve had honest, loyal and hardworking employees. You’re only as good as your help,” Raffaele said. “If it weren’t for the employees I’ve had, I wouldn’t have been as successful. We’ve had the same head chef, Jeff Love, since we first opened.”

One of the original employees, Caite Burns, began working at Messina’s when she was 20.

“It’s pretty cool because I feel like I grew up with this restaurant,” she said. “It’s been our little family. It’s exciting to see all the work Carmelo put into this place and turned it into exactly what he wanted.”

At 65, Raffaele doesn’t plan on retiring anytime soon.

“Right now, we take it day by day,” he said. “I guess I always had an interest in being around people. It’s always been in my blood. I love the people who come to our restaurant.”

Raffaele hopes his family continues the restaurant. Erica has a 9-month-old daughter, Sicily Rae, and Dominic found out last week that he is going to be a father of twin boys.

“It’s their decision if they want to go into the restaurant business. The twins have about 14 or 16 years before we can start having them bus tables,” Dominic said.

Messina’s previously received a Business of the Year award from the Saukville Chamber of Commerce. Raffaele said he is proud to own the only dine-in Italian restaurant in Saukville.

“I really enjoy working in this community. Saukville has been very supportive,” he said. “It’s nice to be in a small community where everyone knows your name.”

Also receiving awards from Ozaukee Economic Development were Spectrum Investment Advisors in Mequon in the medium business category and Wilo Corp. in Cedarburg for large business.

The awards will be presented at Ozaukee Economic Development’s Business of the Year & Economic Forecast Breakfast on Sept. 19.