TheBuzz
TheBuzz
Eating out in
Joe’s BasementYou've gotta love the attitude of a company which includes in its management training course a section titled, "Sinatra: The Man, The Myth, The Legend."
The Web site for Minnesota-based restaurant company Buca di Beppo offers more evidence of its humorous bent. The "fabulous decor" link leads to images of an "accordion shrine" and "festive lighting" depicting a string of Christmas lights draped casually around a statue.
Buca, publicly traded on the Nasdaq since 1999, will open its 69th restaurant next month in Honolulu. With a seating capacity of nearly 500, it will be one of the biggest in the company. The others operate in 22 states and the District of Columbia.
"Nothing is cookie cutter," said Buca marketing coordinator Randy Lopez, which is why they call it a "collection of neighborhood restaurants" and not a chain.
"Buca is hole or cave or basement" in Italian, said Honolulu General Manager Doug Sanders, and Beppo is a nickname for Giuseppe, or Joseph, "so the name means Joe's basement." Sanders' real title is "Paisano Partner," as he is part-owner of the Honolulu location.
Buca is hiring to fill 100 positions for kitchen, wait, bar and host staff for its Jan. 11 grand opening at the Ward Entertainment Center. Just don't call them "employees."
"They become a family member when they're hired," said Sanders. "We don't even refer to employees.
"Each day we sit down for a family meal before opening," he said. "We discuss the day's events and get the synergy in motion before we open the doors." The meal is also open to family members not on the work schedule for the day.
"Our turnover is very low for obvious reasons," he said, adding that the Paisano Partner he had worked under in San Francisco started with the company as a wait assistant.
Open for dinner only, Buca has a reputation for massive portions of Southern Italian "immigrant food" served family style and meant to be shared.
"You've gotta take a backpack for the leftovers," said Randy Schoch, chairman of Desert Island Restaurants, which owns operates Ruth's Chris Steak House in Honolulu, among others.
Schoch and Buca share mainland markets, but Buca is now entering his turf.
The average check per person will be $23 to $25 including beverage, Sanders said. However the restaurant has created a "per due" (for two) offering containing samples of the menu which will feed two to three people.
Buca's grand opening will benefit Na Opio O Ke Ala Hoku, Lopez said, and it will be attended by top company executives including President, Partner, CEO and Chairman Joseph Micatrotto, who is building a home on Kauai.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com