We recently had the chance to connect with Mario & Kelly Crobu and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Mario & Kelly, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
The answer to this has to be always family. Building a business takes a lot of hard work, and when you’re always “on the clock”, but also have a couple of kids, it’s definitely challenging trying to navigate daily routines, or maintain any semblance of a balanced lifestyle. Our ultimate goal with the business is to build something strong enough that it’s passed down to the kids, but sometimes it can feel like it’s the very thing thats pulling us away from time together! At the end of the day, though. we believe the challenges help us really fight for family time, and also cherish it more when we have it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
We are Mario & Kelly, husband and wife team, with two kiddos, Anthony & Paola. Mario’s brother, Gianfranco and his wife Julie (who is also Kelly’s sister, ask us for the full story sometime!) are also part of the team, so we truly are a small, family business! Mario and Gianfranco are native Italians from the Mediterranean island of Sardegna, and we are extremely proud of their heritage, culture, and the authenticity it brings to all that we do. The name “Crobu” is actually our surname, and means “crow” in Sardegnan. We feel the name and symbol represents our company well, because, while everything we do has authentic roots in classic Italian cooking, we also have a chance to showcase what makes us distinctly unique!
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
I think we both would have to say our parents. They are the ones who instilled the foundational values we have and share. But perhaps more directly linked to our business would be all of our experiences and influences in all the years that we spent in the hospitality industry.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I think that while “suffering” might not be the right word (or maybe it is, lol!), one of the biggest lessons we have learned while building our business is the value of being “scrappy”. We have found that you learn more lessons when you are stretched than when things are handed to you. We never took out large loans or had money given to us, and, as a result, had to be smart and tight with all of our decisions. I think it’s easy to believe that if you have a great idea you can make it work with the right funds, but, in reality,, testing and trying something proves its strength, because there are so many more nuances to building something that will last than the initial “idea”.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Again, it’s gotta be Family!
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
LASAGNA!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.casacrobu.com
- Instagram: @casacrobu
- Facebook: @casacrobu
