A Slice of Life

A CONVERSATION WITH CARMEN & TONY MESSINEO

If you enjoy a great love story that includes pizza and pasta, family, and a commitment to giving back to the community, then we’ve got one. We met up with Tony and Carmen Messineo, owners of Valentino’s, to find out how they took one small restaurant and turned it into their life’s dream. 

We need to start at the very beginning – when Tony met Carmen. It was a meeting of chance, like in a movie. Tony, who grew up in Lincoln, was home from seminary school where he was studying to become a Catholic priest. 

Carmen Monaco, grew up in Omaha where her father co-owned the Monaco-Vitale Fruit and Vegetable business in the Old Market. One day, the Monaco’s met up with some friends in Lincoln for dinner at Tony & Luigi’s, owned by Tony Alesio, the uncle of Tony [Messineo]. Tony [Alesio], who knew Monaco's friends, extended an invitation for all to come to his home. That’s when Tony and Carmen first met, but because he was going to school at the seminary, neither gave it another thought.

“When I first met Tony, I thought ‘hands off’ because he was studying to be a priest,” Carmen said. “About six months later, my cousin called and said that Tony had left the seminary. I felt a little guilty about that,” she said with a sheepish grin.

“I knew that day I met her that God had different plans for me in life,” Tony added with a big smile.

Their love story was set in motion from there, and has continued through all of life’s tests of owning a family business. Here’s what they shared about their journey, lessons learned, and family.

How did you get started at Valentino’s?

Carmen: We bought Valentino’s in 1972, when I was pregnant with Anthony. 

Tony: I graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1965 and went to work at Tony & Luigi’s for about 6 years. About that time, the owners of Valentino’s restaurant were ready to retire. When the opportunity to purchase Valentino’s was presented to us, my brother Ronnie and I, along with Carmen, jumped at the chance. 

Valentino’s has a great reputation and connection in the communities they serve. How did that impact the growth of your business?

Tony: Valentino’s has always had a strong presence in the communities they serve. Our roots go back to 1972, but the original owners started back in 1957, and when you go back that far, you get so involved in every activity in the community. 

Plus, we have tremendous food and employees. People ask us what is behind our success and we always say it is about our employees. They know how to make the pizza and they understand our culture – what we stand for, what our principles are, what the community means to us – that’s what it’s all about. You really have to believe in what you are doing.  

How did the expansion of restaurants happen over the years?

Tony: When we first started out, there was one company-owned store. Then about five years after we purchased Valentino’s, we made a decision to franchise – we had a great name and felt it would be relatively easy to franchise our brand. Today, we have 17 corporate stores and 18 franchise stores throughout Nebraska. We still own the corporation and corporate stores but aren’t direct owners of the franchise stores.

When we first bought the restaurant, it was a sit-down dining room where you ordered the pizzas and pastas from the kitchen. But the dining room was so small, it forced Lincolnites to purchase carry-out. That was the advent of carry-out, and now it is 60% of our business. 

Then we got into the buffet business. With COVID, operating that service presented us with some new challenges. 

Carmen: Thank heavens we had the experience of doing carry-out for years when COVID hit. A lot of restaurants weren’t doing that before but then had to start. There’s an art to doing it. Our customers were used to it.

When did you know you wanted to be a business owner?

Tony: My uncle Tony Alesio was very generous to me when I worked at Tony & Luigi’s. On the  other hand, when the opportunity came along with Valentino’s, it was an opportunity of a lifetime.

Carmen: Tony had too much talent to have not taken the opportunity with Valentino’s.

Tony: You really always have to do your best and you never know what will come your way. At Valentino’s, they asked me to coordinate their catering for their daughter’s wedding. The owner’s were impressed and were ready to retire. When you’re in the business and on your feet for 10-12 hours every day, you have a better appreciation for the work that your employees are doing.

Carmen: Our employees appreciate that Tony has always been willing to work side by side with them.

What has been the best part of owning a business in Lincoln?

Tony: The best part has been the interaction with our employees and customers, developing relationships over the years.

Carmen: Our customers come up and tell us how Val’s was a huge part of their lives.

Tony: Family memories so often have food as the centerpoint. People got engaged at Valentino’s. Couples had their reception or prenuptial dinner here. When we look back, that’s been the most enjoyable. Secondly, it’s what we’ve been able to do with our success. We try to give back to the community, that’s what counts.

Carmen: It’s been fun seeing our kids, and grandkids now, get involved with the business. It’s life, it’s family.

Tony: It’s also seeing the reaction of people when you mention Valentino’s. You see a spark in their eyes.

Carmen: It’s a great feeling when they find out. He’s done a lot, and the kids and grandkids have worked hard.

What advice would you give someone starting out in business?

Tony: I would tell them this: 

#1 - Establish your culture and make sure everyone lives by those principles. 

#2 - Set very high standards and don’t compromise, no matter what. 

#3 - You can’t do it by yourself.

#4 - You are going to make mistakes; learn from them and survive them.

#5 - You have to have the support of your family. 

How has COVID impacted your business?

Tony: Primarily, it has been in sales. We lost all of our dining room/buffet business, which was big, and another big part was our catering business, like with the University – it was reduced significantly by about 40%.

Carmen: We also own Premier Catering, which most people probably don’t know. We did a lot of weddings, receptions, banquets, and functions for the University. That all stopped with COVID.

Tony: It’s starting to come back, but not to the extent it was prior to COVID. If you go to a football game at Nebraska and you buy a slice of pizza, that’s all Valentino’s. Before COVID, we sold a record 25,000 slices of pizza at one game.

How has Valentino’s, and your family, been involved in the Lincoln community?

Carmen: People would ask us to donate or serve on a committee. 

Tony: We started small, sponsoring events as they came to us. Now we have a committee that makes those decisions. Everyone in Lincoln knows that Val’s is there for them.

When Carmen and I look back on our lives and the beautiful family we have, we thank God every day.

What’s life like for you today?

Tony: I am more like a triage nurse, and along with my cousin, Mike Alesio, we provide overall direction for the business. 

Carmen and I love that our children are very involved as well. Our sons Anthony and Michael primarily run the day-to-day operations and our daughter Debbie manages the public relations.

Carmen: We watch a lot of Netflix - I like foreign films. And, I’m cooking more than I was.

Tony: She’s a very good cook.

Tony: When Carmen and I look back on our lives and the beautiful family we have, we thank God every day. 

If you’re suddenly in the mood for some delicious pizza or pasta from Valentino’s, rest assured that your food is being made with heart and love.