SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)–Ralph Rotella has been a staple in Syracuse for almost five decades. Rotella moved to Central New York from the Calabria region of Italy when he was 16 years old in 1975.
Needing a sponsor to be allowed into the United States, Rotella was fortunate to have his grandfather and uncle already in the United States. Plus, his uncle owned Discount Shoe Repair in Syracuse, which provided Rotella with the job that would be his ticket into the country.
“I was lucky because my uncle had the shoe shop and I signed up,” Rotella said.
While Rotella had more at his disposal than most Italians who wanted to emigrate to the United States, there was still an adjustment process.
“In America the houses are made out of wood, so after a couple weeks maybe, I asked my grandpa, ‘When do we go to our house?’. ‘No that’s where we live,’ and in Italy all the houses are made out of brick or out of stone, he said ‘No this is where we live.’ I said ‘Oh mamma mia, where I end up over here?’” Rotella said with a smile and a laugh.
While physical structures, among many other aspects of life, were different from what Rotella was used to, one element that never changed for him was hospitality.
“I see the generosity of my mother and father that’s why I look at them and I feel the same way,” Rotella said.
He brought that generosity to his store. He feels customers, especially recurring ones, are his friends, and he treats them as such.
“He’s always got pasta, different pasta dishes and it’s delicious, but today we come and it’s empty, so we got deli sandwiches on the go,” one customer said.
Rotella takes pride in offering food and coffee to his customers, saying it’s something he takes from his parents and the Italian culture in which he was brought up in.
While his heritage is obvious in the way he treats others and operates his business, Rotella leaves no doubt that he loves where he is and the life he has built for himself in the United States.
“American dream…be happy. Really, what do you say about the American dream? It’s freedom. You can do whatever you want.”
