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Top Businessmen of South Philly

By Bill Gelman and Lindsey Nolen

Anthony J. Caiazzo, Attorney
Caiazzo Law Offices

1445 Snyder Ave.
Years in business: 52

What is the secret behind your success story?
“It’s a lot of things. It’s being compassionate toward clients, tenacious against your opponents and hard work, coming in and working until the work is done everyday.”

Location, location. Tell us a little bit about the spot where your business is based.
“It was the location my dad had, I just took it over. I came to work for my father.”

Look into a crystal ball. Tell us something exciting about the future of your business.
“We have several catastrophic injury cases and several wrongful death cases that will change the lives of the parties once they get a check. We’re going to make the community safer by holding the insurance companies and corporations accountable for their behavior.”

Ralph Sciulli, Owner
With Rickey Sciulli
Ralph & Rickey’s

2700 S. 7th Street
Years in business: 50

What is the secret behind your success story?
“We put out good product, we always did and we always will. Everything we put out we make it ourselves. We would never serve something we wouldn’t eat ourselves.”

Location, location. Tell us a little bit about the spot where your business is based.
“We were in Gray’s Ferry for our first place, and were there for 28 years, then Front and Ritner. Now we’re on the Oregon Avenue strip because it’s a better spot, and we’ve been here 37 years.”

Look into a crystal ball. Tell us something exciting about the future of your business.

“We always hope that the future gets better, and we’re still going to be here. We never think negative, you always have to think positive, talk to people and be polite.”

Franco DiGiacomo, Owner P&S Ravioli Co.

1722 Oregon Ave.
Years in business: 52

What is the secret behind your success story?
“The growth of P & S Ravioli is the result of a “labor of love” performed by the DiGiacomo brothers who emigrated from Abruzzi, Italy in 1960. Today, we continue the ongoing tradition of quality, value and outstanding customer service. Freshness is the key word to our operation and quality is paramount. We use only premium products to produce old world flavor and the finest pasta that ever graced your table.”

Location, location. Tell us a little bit about the spot where your business is based.
“P & S Ravioli has become a staple in our South Philadelphia neighborhoods. Our customers and neighbors have become our extended family from the very day. For the past 15 years our 1722 Oregon Ave. location has been a full service Italian deli.”

Look into a crystal ball. Tell us something exciting about the future of your business.
The focus of our future is to keep the tradition of family alive. In today’s fast-paced environment, not too many families still sit at the table together every night for dinner. We grew up around the dinner table. This is where my family bond began, and our business thrives on this tradition. Each year more and more supermarkets contact us to carry our products on their shelves.”

Mark J. Rago, Funeral Director
Monti-Rago Funeral Home Inc.

2531–35 S. Broad St.
Years in business: 59

What is the secret behind your success story?
“I didn’t grow up in the funeral business or come from a funeral home family. I chose to be in the business and started working at the age of 16 and I think because I chose to do it rather than being forced to do it, sets me and our funeral home aside from everyone else in South Philadelphia.”

Location, location. Tell us a little bit about the spot where your business is based.
“Monti-Rago Funeral Home has been in the same location since 1958. It is conveniently located for people who are traveling to and from Center City by bus or subway and only minutes away from the Walt Whitman Bridge for those coming from South Jersey. I also wanted the business to be able to accommodate anyone. That is why I made it 100 percent handicap accessible. It is definitely a gathering point. Also, for many years, it was one of the great places to watch and enjoy the New Year’s Day Parade. Hopefully we can do that again.”

Look into a crystal ball. Tell us something exciting about the future of your business.
“I am looking forward to the next generation of funeral directors. We currently have three trainees working with us. They are very enthusiastic and looking to serve the community.”

Pete Ciarrocchi, owner
Chickie’s and Pete’s

1526 Packer Ave.
Years in business: 40 (in November)

What is the secret behind your success story?
“Hiring the right staff. Listening to what the customers want. Staying current. Making the food delicious and a little different from everyone else.”

Location, location. Tell us a little bit about the spot where your business is based.
“That’s the flagship store [on Packer Avenue]. It was the first large bar/restaurant in South Philly. It was just an available location, bigger than we wanted. We are very fortunate that it worked out with the stadiums.”

Look into a crystal ball. Tell us something exciting about the future of your business.
“We are opening another location in Marlton [New Jersey]. It should be to South Jersey what Chickie’s and Pete’s on Packer Avenue is to South Philly. We are going to keep chugging along opening places as long as people want us.”

Sam D’Angelo Jr, Operating Partner
Samuels & Sons Seafood

3400 S. Lawrence St.
Years in business: 88

What is the secret behind your success story?
“Our great grandfather Giuseppe was so hardworking and passionate about great quality seafood, and he passed that down to the rest of the family. That’s definitely why we’ve been so successful — love for family and great seafood. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends have all worked in the store over the years, and the regular guests who enjoy our food feel like family to us too. My brother, sisters, and I grew up in and around the store, so family and good food has always been our driving force. We still have customers that say, ‘I remember when your father and mother ran the store.’ It’s great to see the same customers come back year after year. Hopefully their kids will say the same to our children.

Location, location. Tell us a little bit about the spot where your business is based.
“In the beginning, our location was where the customers were. Before the brick-and-mortar building we currently have, our great grandfather would walk the streets with a push cart and find the customers. Over the years, he built a reputation for great service and seafood and decided to open a store on 13th and Dickinson in 1929. With the restaurant boom on Passyunk Avenue, it’s brought in more foodies, which has allowed us to try new prepared dishes and bring in some unique fresh seafood as well. Our family has been a part of this neighborhood since 1929. You can say we were here before the boom. Our Sicilian heritage that has existed here continues to thrive, and it makes us so proud to be a part of that community, too. We love our location, and it’s become an essential staple in the neighborhood.”

Look into a crystal ball. Tell us something exciting about the future of your business.
“We’re always looking to make our business better, especially when it comes to providing the best customer service. We strive to have the most knowledge about seafood, so we’re always ahead of the game when it comes to what’s delicious. Being an integral part of our community is something we’re incredibly proud of, and we want to keep it that way. We’ve built our business on our hard-earned experience and the determination to make it great. We’re not stopping anytime soon, so the future looks bright!”

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