Company address: 1307 E. Brady St., Milwaukee WI 53202
Company Web site: www.mimmas.com
Industry: Restaurant/hospitality
Number of employees: 17
What was the smartest thing your company did in the past year?
“In this day and age, Web sites are crucial to companies, and in 2007 we updated our site. We made it a bit easier to follow and brightened up the colors. We’ve gotten great comments on the site, especially the pictures of our food.”
What’s new at your company?
“We received four awards last year, including the Wisconsin Restaurant Association 2007 Restaurateur of the Year and American Dream Award from the National Restaurant Association. We’ve really been preparing for our 20th anniversary, which kicks off this month. We are going to have some amazing wine dinners benefiting selected charities and we are tossing around the idea of a pretty substantial anniversary party in October, but for now we are going to focus on the wine dinners for our customers and an opportunity to give back to local charities.”
Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?
“We are hoping to increase staffing in both the front and back of the house in 2008. With the Harley-Davidson anniversary coming up, we are expecting a tremendous spring and summer. We are always looking for good help and to give a willing employee a chance at a career.”
What will be your company’s main challenges in the next year?
“It’s always a challenge to keep up with the new restaurants coming up in the city. Milwaukee is a great city for dining, but being on Brady Street and all the traffic the area gets, it really helps new eyes to see our menu.”
What’s the hottest trend in your industry?
“Being a culture cuisine restaurant, I’m not sure we will ever focus on what is ‘hot.’ We focus on consistency and quality for our customers. We work closely with our wine distributors to make sure we have the correct wine to complement our meals, but we really want to focus on quality service and food rather than trends. Remember when not eating pasta was a hot trend? Well, we didn’t change a thing and our doors stayed open. We’ll stick with what works for us and our customers will let us know if they want something different. So far, so good.”
Do you have a business mantra?
“You have to love what you do, and I believe in what I do – that gives me pride. You have to remember I came to this country at the age of 16. I work as hard today to give my customers great cuisine as I did the day I opened the door. Never take a customer or your business for granted.”
From a business standpoint, who do you look up to?
“I’ve always been a believer that you can do whatever you want. I had a dream and a goal when I came to this country, and the people I look up to are those that helped me along the way to reach my dream. Those people were and are the best at what they do, and I couldn’t have done it without them.”
What was the best advice you ever received?
“Very simple: ‘Keep up the good work and don’t change,’ which is what many of my customers say. They give me energy for another 20 years.”
What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you in your career?
“Actor Leslie Nielson was here after he did the movie ‘Airplane!.’ He is a huge fan of Mimma’s, and after one of his meals, he went into the kitchen pretending to be sick and asked the kitchen staff what they did to his food. Well, he had one of those small whoopie cushions in his hand and kept making this gas sound. There was a moment of shock, and then everyone just burst into laughter.”
What do you like to do in your free time?
“I like being around people and doing things for people. The interaction keeps me aware of what is going on in the city and who might need help.”
