|
|
For more information:
Emily Connolly or Morgan Dyches
Melissa Libby &
Associates
404-816-3068
FIGO PASTA'S WEST MIDTOWN LOCATION IS LATEST STEP
IN COMPANY’S GROWTH
Local Restaurant Chain Continues Responsible Expansion
ATLANTA (Oct. 22, 2015) – Celebrating
its one-year anniversary this month, FIGO in West
Midtown is the sixth location of Atlanta’s popular pasta chain. It is situated
on one of the city’s original seven streets and signals founder Sandro
Romagnoli’s commitment to expanding his local Italian restaurants into new
neighborhoods like the Marietta
Street Artery. An area where formerly industrial properties now house creative
spaces, urban lofts, performance venues and acclaimed dining and retail
options, West Midtown represents a renaissance of historical Atlanta
neighborhoods.
Much like the
Marietta Street corridor, Romagnoli’s career also experienced a re-awakening to
allow for the creation of FIGO, which in the Italian language translates to
something that is outstanding or much loved. Although the company is now
Romagnoli’s not-so-little slice of heaven, it took him leaving a very
successful career in the woodworking machinery field to uncover his true
passion.
“In 2001, I
was working for an Italian company and making a very good living, but I
realized that something was missing in my life,” Romagnoli recalls. “After a
lot of reflection, I came to the conclusion that I wasn’t really in love with
what I was doing.”
During this
time of reflection, Romagnoli retraced his steps, trying to determine when he
had been the happiest. They led him back to his work at The George Hotel of
Stamford in England where he had been a busser and server for a brief time
while trying to learn English. A native of Certaldo, Italy, Romagnoli grew up
in a small town outside of Florence but decided he was ready for a bigger city
and traveled to England after earning his accounting degree. Although he
eventually moved back to Italy and then to Atlanta to follow other career
paths, Romagnoli’s time in England would have a profound impact on his future.
“I realized
that when I was serving in that restaurant, I was able to establish a
connection with others that was so intense it would fill my heart with
happiness,” says Romagnoli. “Then it became very clear to me that whatever I
was going to do, I was going to be in the business of making people happy.”
He wrote this
revelation on a piece of paper that he still holds today, because out of this
shocking revelation, FIGO was born just a year later. It is what Romagnoli
refers to as his “unwavering and sometimes irrational passion” that fueled the
opening of the original location of his successful restaurant chain. Now, with
restaurants in Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Vinings, Edgewood/L5P and Decatur, as
well as the latest outpost in the cultural heart of Atlanta, FIGO remains a
local, independent company that has thrived despite a challenging economy.
One of the
tangible ways the FIGO brand displays its individuality and creative culture is
through the company’s “Italian satellite system,” which was created by
Romagnoli’s sister, Anna, while brainstorming a way to locate where guests are
sitting and deliver food throughout the restaurant. This system, now used at
all FIGO locations, consists of pepper shakers painted by staff members to add
a colorful element of self-expression.
FIGO extends this same autonomy to
guests with a wide variety of fresh pasta and sauce options to make up a
selection of more than 600 dishes, including salads, antipasti, panini,
meatballs and FIGO favorites. Each location also offers monthly specials. Additionally, the restaurants cater special events, meetings and parties,
offering options ranging from sandwich trays to large pasta and entrée dishes
to desserts.
FIGO’s West Midtown restaurant is
located at 907 Marietta Street NW and serves lunch and dinner daily. The
restaurant offers free Wi-Fi and ample private parking - a rarity for the area.
For updates, follow FIGO on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For more
information, call 404-963-7950 or visit www.figopasta.com.
###
No comments:
Post a Comment