Behind the Scenes
Everyone knows the face of Santoni’s, the managers and the cashiers, but who makes Santoni’s? Who is in the background making sure that everything you have is to the standards of Santoni’s. With this series, we look at the people behind the scenes.
Today we meet Chris!
In 1988, Chris understood the addiction of Santoni’s. Every morning he would stop at Santoni’s on his way to his job as a plumber’s helper. Being there every day, he soon made friends with a deli manager named Maria telling her that he was interested in finding a job. Maria suggested that Santoni’s had an opening in the Deli, and he passed on the job.
Weeks later, Santoni’s had an opening for a meat cutter. Immediately, Chris applied and got the job. Chris thought he would be slick and learn how to cut meat and slip away to Giant! Little did he know how Santoni’s would not only be the addiction, but it would become family and home.
Rick and his sister Gina taught Chris all they knew about cutting meat, and as he became family, the potential for growth was on the horizon. Chris moved on to Catering, making platters and subs.
Growth was not only happening to Chris, but to Santoni’s itself! When the first kitchen was put in, Chris started working with Gina, He helped develop the first run of Santoni’s amazing salads and is still doing work in the deli. He then started ordering inventory, making sure everything was in stock for the kitchen and dealing one on one with the vendors.
Chris says that he was very fortunate that he found his calling, and laughs saying he never expected that he would be a food guy. He is grateful he was able to learn from great talent.
When asked what’s his favorite thing to make… he laughs and says he hates that question, it’s really isn’t that fair of a question because there is so many great things to make, but if he had to choose one thing, it would have to be soup. Soup is timeless and needs to be nurtured.
There are so many things that Chris has played a part of in Santoni’s Timeline:
· First Pit Beef with Rick
· First Delivery with Rick
· Valentine Special with our first catering salesperson Ginny
· Started the birthday shout out
· Omelet station on the floor
· Pasta station
· Did Off premise catering
· Hot Bar
· Chef’s Case
· Was on the news on TV from the Ravens Superbowl
· Won on 98 Rock on morning at work in the 90’s
Chris is a proud part of the team and family called Santoni’s. From the beginning in 1988 to now, Chris has grown in both life and the blessing of seeing Santoni’s grow into what it is today.
Chris, we are not only proud of who you have become, but you have also become a blessing to the community we call Santoni’s.
