Persistence Pays Off for Suffolk Alumna
Persistence paid off for Alessandra Siniscalco, BSBA ’07 who did the unthinkable: when she was a sophomore and full-time student, she started her own business. That was nearly two years ago. A successful, thriving eatery, Cafe Piazza Dolce in Winchester, Mass., was written up in the Boston Globe and featured on NECN’s "TV Diner."
"You have to be determined, you have to really want it to happen," she says. "For the first three weeks, I slept on a portable mattress in the office, so I could study in the evening and be at the cafe early."
Siniscalco dreamed of running her own business since high school. With the help of her parents and her extremely strong work ethic, that dream became a reality. Her cafe, located in the same building where her parents operate a salon and spa is now open six days a week. In addition to its 39 seats, 18 of which are outdoors overlooking Bellino Park, the cafe has free Wi-Fi access, large flat-screen TVs and a charm that is indeed reminiscent of the old-country itself. The original fare included coffee drinks, pizza, and pastries such as cannoli, imported from Italy.
From the onset, business was brisk, and Siniscalco bounced the idea of a customer survey off Suzyn Ornstein, her mentor. The survey results were encouraging, and Siniscalco began offering breakfast sandwiches, panini, and dinner items such as antipasto tomato salads and spinach crostini. Ornstein who is also a Professor of Management at the Sawyer Business School and Co-Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies gave the nod to her volunteering for the Taste of Winchester Chamber of Commerce luncheon to network.
Suffolk’s Center for Entrepreneurial Studies is a good way to meet people who know what they are doing." she says. "Whether you’re 20 years old or 50, you need someone to guide you. I know I can call Suzyn any time and get advice."