Turning passion into positivity
For the last five months neither of the owners took a salary, instead they made sure every member of their staff was taken care of and received salaries.
Settebello restaurant, situated at the Italian Club in Bedfordview, has turned the negativity surrounding Covid-19 into positivity for staff and clients.
The restaurant was dealt a hard blow when only months after opening it was forced to close to accommodate new government regulations surrounding the coronavirus.
Owners Pino De Bennedetto and Ramiro (Miro) Marques took over renovations at the restaurant in July 2019.
The newly renovated and re-imagined restaurant officially opened its doors in August last year.
Then lockdown hit.
“We have been very fortunate to be able to keep every single staff member and pay every employee throughout the lockdown,” Pino told the NEWS.
Pino, who comes from a corporate background, ensured that each of his employees was registered with Sars and licensed to work in the restaurant industry.
This process although painful at the time ensured that as owners he and Miro were able to look after their staff during lockdown.
“From the start we didn’t want to be like everyone else in the restaurant industry and when the lockdown hit we wanted to protect our staff as much as possible.”
For the last five months neither of the owners took a salary, instead they made sure every member of their staff was taken care of and received salaries.
The two also learnt the value of supporting businesses in the community.
“We support the local guys for our produce and in turn they support us,” Pino said.
He said in the past people questioned what would happen to the Italian Club.
“We want people to know the club is still running,” he said.
Last year a decision was made to privatise entities at the club and Pino and Miro tendered for the takeover the restaurant.
“Since reopening the community has been very supportive. We run our own deliveries and operate under new curfew hours from Wednesdays to Sundays. Sundays we close at 5pm,” Pino told the NEWS.
He added that the lockdown was a blessing in many ways.
“I think as a society we have learnt to do more with less. We have been blessed and the community sees us as a breath of fresh air after the lockdown.”
