Service and Hospitality with Joseph Costanzo, Jr. and Maria Costanzo Palmer

As we celebrate Father’s day today I am remembering the Chef and the legacy he left. This podcast was inspired by my father’s story and legacy.

To celebrate this, I am interviewing a father daughter restaurant team.  Joseph Costanzo, Jr. and Maria Costanzo Palmer who share with us the ingredients for success in service and hospitality.

1.  Be welcoming and treat your customers  like you would at your own home

2.  Treat every customer as they are your first and only customer  no matter how busy you are

3.   Everyone has celebrity status treat everyone who walks through the door like a celebrity

4.   Know you customers and remember something about them

5.   Are you Celebrating? Ask People if they are celebrating something special 

 Joseph Costanzo, Jr. is a well-known personality in the restaurant world. He was one of the most decorated restaurateurs in the United States, winning multiple awards both locally and nationally.  For seventeen years, Costanzo owned and operated The Primadonna Restaurant in McKees Rocks, PA. The Primadonna was frequently voted the best Italian restaurant in Pittsburgh ,  receiving glowing acclaim in local the  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  and  City Paper and other well known publications  Costanzo used his marketing genius to create his own bottled Italian salad dressing sold in stores and offered a Primadonna apparel line, essentially turning supporters into walking billboards.

 Maria Costanzo Palmer was named as the 2021 Finalist for the Page Turner Awards in the Screenplay Book Adaptation Needed category for On the Rocks. Maria’s writing has also been recently recognized by Gov. Phil Murphy, who sent her a personal commendation letter after her Page Turner nomination.  She is also the founder of the popular FB/IG fans page @joecostanzoprimadonna, which hosts 30,000 visitors a month seeking recipes, Italian memes, giveaways and a peak at her day-to-day life working in the family restaurant business for many years. She is also a new co-moderator for the Food Is Religion Club on the Clubhouse app, which has 6,000+ members. She co-moderates a weekly show on Sundays at 4 pm EST called "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of Hospitality." In addition, Maria is a well-known force in the nonprofit world. She has worked on both coasts for organizations that give voice and equity to the marginalized members of society. Her writing was recently featured on OC87 Recovery Diaries. She is also a regular podcast guest and has been featured in a documentary. 

To learn more about Maria Palmer visit:  Www.mariacpalmer.com. Twitter @mariacpalmer. 

To learn more about  Joseph Costanzo, Jr. visit: FB/IG @joecostanzoprimadonna.

To learn more about Julie Riga and her mission to Stay On Course, visit her website: www.julieriga.com

Julie Riga is a certified coach, trainer, speaker and author with over 20 years of experience in the Pharma Industry. Julie’s education is vast with studies that include business, communications, training and executive coaching.

Julie started on this journey because she had a strong desire to pass on the knowledge and skills passed on to her by her father, Ennio Riga, and inspirational man who taught her how to keep going irrespective of the challenges that life may present you with.

Based in New Jersey, Julie have travelled the world supporting corporations, business leaders and individuals on their journey of empowerment and growth.