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My parents, Vincenzo and Inge Cristiano, will celebrate fifty years in business on July 31st, 2008 at their Landmark Italian Restaurant in Long Beach, California. Nino’s is where I took my first steps and it was very much a second, sometimes first home to my family. I have two older brothers, Nino and Mike. We all grew up in the restaurant business whether it was kneading pizza dough, making garlic bread, taking phone orders, or growing into other roles of needs. As the family grew up so did the restaurant from its humble one store front beginnings. My father was born in Grumo Nevano, a small province of Naples (Napoli in Italian), Italy. My father became the head of his household at age 10 because his father had left his family. His mother and younger brother Pasquale became his responsibility and he took this role in his family to heart. He later met his blue-eyed, fair skinned beauty, Inge Reuschling after WWII. Inge’s father owned a motorcycle and bicycle shop that also carried baby wagons and carriages in Frankfurt, Germany therefore growing up in a family business with her parents Anton and Martha plus her sister Anneliese. Inge was no stranger to family business and Vince was an entrepreneur by nature so this match was perfect for the world they were preparing to conquer as husband and wife. They married in Germany and had their first son Nino. Things were good in Germany for the newlyweds. There were a lot of opportunities for a young entrepreneur in a country rebuilding itself, but Inge’s older sister Anneliese had moved to Canada and suggested that Inge and Vince move there also. Having the adventurous spirit of a true entrepreneur, Vince and Inge moved to Calgary, Canada. It was freezing cold there and my father had to work hard physical labor. They just couldn’t keep up with the demands of the harsh winter and physical exhaustion when my father had a hernia rupture. After sometime in the hospital, they decided that it wasn’t the right fit for this young family full of promise. After my dad’s full recovery, he sent my mom and brother Nino back to Germany to be with her parents while he found another suitable place for his family to live. What impresses me most at this crossroads in their life is that they could have easily gone back to Germany where they have familiarity, contacts and friends, but rather they pursued the unknown instead. This courage is something my parents taught me in life and I am forever grateful. My father went on to Bogota, Columbia because his very best friend moved there and figured he could at least get a fresh start. Plus he knew the weather was better for a Southern Italian who realized the cold weather in Canada wasn’t for him. One of my favorite stories is that when my father arrived at the airport in Columbia and he was greeted by his warm and friendly friends, he stopped them immediately and had everyone empty out their pockets. He told them, “I just sent my wife and son back to Germany with little money and I need to make sure they are okay until we can be reunited again.” My father always took his family responsibility as his first priority in life and never wavered from the fact that he was the head of the household and this was a taken as an honor and privilege. Even though my grandparents were happy to have my mom and brother back and they were in wonderful hands with her parents, my father knew his obligation to take care of them no matter what. It was his job and he never looked for “short cuts” or hand outs. My father was able to get into the restaurant business in Bogota and sent for my mom and brother within three months. Imagine traveling around the world in 1955. This world travel is amazement in itself. It also shows my mother’s courage being a young new mother and venturing out while trusting her husband’s guide. Within a year, they owned two restaurants. Though they were prosperous, the country was poor and there were revolutions on the street, as my dad explains it. He said many dignitaries ate at his restaurants from America and told him he needed to get his family out of there sooner than later. At this stage in their life, my mother was pregnant with their second child. They set their goals on America and contacted my grandparents in Germany and my Aunt Anneliese and Uncle Hans in Canada for their next journey. The families agreed to meet in Long Beach, California. My parents had to wait for their second baby first because my mother was too far along in her pregnancy to travel. They were thinking of “American Names” and when their second son was born, they named him Michael, better known as Mike. They arrived in Long Beach with a four year old and a four week old plus neither of my parents knew the English language. This was May 1957. They both immediately found jobs in restaurants; my dad even had a second job just to make ends meet. They had a goal. They were going to open their own restaurant again within one year. One year of sacrifice and hard work, but they had a mission set. My father drove around in the late evenings after work looking for the perfect location. He wanted to be in a neighborhood setting because he liked the downtown area, but he wanted to find a restaurant location nestled in a family neighborhood setting. He knew he wanted his children close by and when he discovered Bixby Knolls, his heart felt at home there. They rented their location at 3853 Atlantic Avenue and the first month of rent was free so they could build a restaurant. He said his brother-in-law and father-in-law were of great help with the carpentry and he lucked out with a city employee inspector. My father was still limited in his language skills, and when this inspector from the city met my father, he said he was willing to take the day off from work to drive my dad around to all the places he needed to go to get the necessary permits to open a restaurant. My father asked him why he was so kind and the man replied, “It takes guts coming to a new country with a wife and two young children. You have some nerve opening up your own restaurant. You have a hard road ahead; you deserve a break because you might not have a break for a long time ahead.” With this help and long hours, Nino’s was ready for opening one day ahead of schedule. I know many small business owners couldn’t fathom this, I sometimes can’t and it is about my own family heritage. My father looks back realizing what a blessing the whole experience was for him as well. Therefore, July 31st, 1958, one day ahead of plan, they opened Nino’s Italian Restaurant. The name, Nino, was a perfect fit because my father said Vincenzo was too long and not as nice sounding as Nino. Nino is the first son and hence the namesake fit. The open of the restaurant had one dining room, with several booths and tables. My mom was in charge of the dining room and my dad was in charge of the kitchen. There was a back room to the restaurant that was set up for kids as well as a warehouse for products. The landlord was a true fan of my parents and Dr. Harris was a fair landlord. Dr. Harris learned that he was dying and made my parents an offer they couldn’t refuse. He offered them not only to buy their building, but the two other adjacent buildings that he owned. Dr. Harris said that they were the best tenants ever; they did their own repairs, paid their rent on time if not early and were extremely respectful to others. Therefore he wanted to make sure this incredible little restaurant had a long life. I was born July 30, 1966. The first American born in our family and my father and mother were so proud of this. My whole life this seemed to give me a special place in the world because they were so proud of their American citizenship that somehow having a child born in America gave them a new status. It was a life defining moment for them as citizens of this country. Customers still come in today that say they were there the day I was born and that the wine and champagne were on the house in celebration that night. Some fun trivia is that my dad is the biggest soccer fan. That day, the World Cup was taking place and it was Germany vs. England. He actually took my mom to the hospital when she went into labor that morning and went back home to watch the game. Once the game was over he immediately went back to the hospital and he said that I waited for the game to be over. He named me after his mother who had recently passed away and after a song that he loves, Carina. By the way, now we watch World Cup Soccer together. Viva Italia 2006. Over the years the restaurant has grown into the three buildings with the same main dining room and kitchen. It also hosts a beautiful banquet room and full catering facilities, full bar and parking lot. My parents are responsible, caring and hardworking people full of integrity, humility and respect. Through their travels and years of life experience, they’ve come out completely satisfied and loving their work. One of their favorite memories is making many wonderful friends through the restaurant business. My father is 84 and my mother is 74 and after 55 years of marriage and three kids they are very grateful for their blessings. They are still there every day greeting customers and overseeing the operations. They will never seize to amaze me. They are my heroes and I love them dearly. They have set the standards high in life and for that I am truly grateful. Having them as role models is essential to my own journey in life. As Nino’s enters its 50th year, we embrace the nostalgic feelings of the restaurant that we share with many of our guests. Our family restaurant and traditional cuisine are enjoyed by many other families as well, actually some families representing five generations of patrons. We also look forward to our continued active citizenship in America by being active in our community. My family and I feel that small business owners represent the personality, diversity and difference in our city. Therefore with each year we grow we applaud our peers for a job well done. Recently Nino’s became involved in Bixby Knolls’ First Fridays where we are building our community through the arts. Again, it is a new direction and another journey for the Cristiano family. Nino’s is truly a little bit of Italy in Long Beach with a big heart for being American, living in Long Beach and loving it. |
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