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Progessive
Grocer Magazine Article May 2001
With love from Magnotto's
 Saturday evenings are generally pretty quite
at Michael's Cafe in the 70,000 square foot Magnotto's Shop N'
Save
supermarket in Hermitage, Pa. But that wasn't the case on February
10 when the independent operator got a jump on Valentine's Day
by offering a "Treat Your Valentine to a Surf 'n Turf Dinner"
for $29.99 per couple.
The dinner was the idea of Aileen Magnotto, wife of
the owner Michael Magnotto. "It was a gamble to see if we
could get people. The event with limited seating, was by reservation
only," says Earl Rosenquist, store director. All 48 seats-
two seatings of 24 each- were reserved two days prior to a Feb.
7 deadline. Customer's were called in advance for their steak-cooking
preference.
On the night of the dinner, the
cafe was decorated with
hanging baskets and flower trellis. Tables with floral
arrangements, were covered with red tablecloths. China
and silverware were and the place settings included
name cards. Student from Paula Kubic School of Music provided
live piano music. About 40 people came to the store just to hear
the music, and nearly all of them did some shopping while in the
store, according to Rosenquist.
Lemon water, cheese, crackers
and pepperoni awaited customers at the tables. The menu consisted
of homemade soup, Italian salad, 8-ounce Angus beff filet mignon,
8-ounce labster tail, homemade pasta with fresh vegetables, double
stuffed potatoe, dinner rolls, cheesecake, and non-alcoholic wine.
Customers were permitted to bring wine.
Aileen Magnotto was the events
hostess/cook, while her husband grilled steaks and broiled lobster.
Patty
Spangler, deli-manager, was the waitress, and the
Magnotto children helped serve.
Photos were taken of each table,
with enlargements
offered at a discount, as were roses. " We went all out for
this. It was like going to a firstclass restaurant," Rosenquist
says.
On the heels of this event, Magnotto's
is planning
Mother's Day and Father's Day celebrations. " We fly with
ideas from everybody. We're very versatile in the things we do.
It's great to work for an independent, because you're not stuck
with a strict corporate enviroment," Rosenquist Say.
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