Owner of Salvatore’s pizza outlet only 25

Listen to this article

When the newest franchise of Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Pub opened earlier this month in Walworth, Wayne County, it might have seemed like a speedy promotion for the 25-year-old owner.

Frank Freida is currently the youngest franchisee in the 29-store chain, but he has been working toward owning his own shop for eight years. He left community college at age 18 and decided he preferred a hands-on education in business. That started with him working as a delivery driver for the Latta Road Salvatore’s in Greece.

Before too long, however, Freida knew he wanted to move into management. And that would require giving up lucrative tips to work inside. He estimated he took a pay cut of $6 an hour to move inside the store so he could start learning other jobs at the pizzeria.

“You can’t be a driver and be the person running the show,” Freida said. As he talked, it was just after 10 a.m. and though his store had just opened, he already had two sliced-up pies and a tray of garlic knots  waiting under heat lamps on the counter in case someone came in hungry for a savory mid-morning snack. A pot of coffee – free for anyone – was already brewed.

“I had to stop delivery,” Freida recalled.  “You have to know every position better than anyone in the store and faster than anyone so people recognize you as being something special.” He soon learned the jobs of cook and pizza preparer.

Freida worked at the Latta Road store for about three years before moving to another store in the franchise to learn new skills. He speaks admiringly of his time at the pizzeria on East Main Street in Rochester, the original and one of the busiest stores in the Salvatore’s chain. Each person has a specific task there, he said, and even the front-end managers specialize in what they handle, Freida said.

He took notice of everything, as he hoped to replicate it one day as a franchise owner.

“I’ve known I wanted to own one. I’ve been talking to one of the corporate guys for the last four years,” Freida said.  After his time on East Main, Freida returned to Latta Road and became a general manager there, more recently working at the Lake Avenue store in Charlotte. Eventually, he was offered the Walworth store as a franchise.

A former garage converted into a pizzeria, the Walworth location needed updating before Freida took over as the owner. The store formerly had a bar that was separate from the chest-high pizza counter. Freida had the pizza counter lowered and included the bar in this enlarged counter.

“We changed the layout and gave it a more homey feel,” he said.  Although reared in Greece, Freida has family in Wayne County. “I have family support out this way.”  And he has family support in the business. He obtained a startup loan from ESL Federal Credit Union and used his own savings, but his parents also invested in his business.

And at the opening, not only did Salvatore’s officials attend, but three generations of Freida’s family, including grandparents and a great-grandparent were present, too.

While Freida is currently the youngest Salvatore’s franchise owner, he’s not the youngest person to buy a franchise, not by a long shot. Salvatore “Soccer Sam” Fantauzzo founded the restaurant as a home-economics project when he was still in high school. His son, Silvio Fantauzzo, became a franchisee at age 18 and now owns multiple stores.

“Throughout 39 years of Salvatore’s Old Fashioned Pizzeria, several young box makers and pizza chefs are now self-employed owner/operators,” the elder Fantauzzo said. “We plan to continue this tradition of growth and opportunity within all of our brands.”

And Freida is taking note of that example, too.  Now the boss of some 15 or 16 employees in one location, he hopes that several years from now he can brag about having multiple outlets as well.

If what one of the company officials says is any indication, that goal is realistic.

“At only 25 years old, Frank shows much initiative and leadership. His work ethic is above par, and we believe that this location, under Frank’s guidance, will be a success,” said Ashley King, vice president of business operations for Salvatore’s.

[email protected]/ (585) 363-7275