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Mostly Cloudy Oregano Joe's is heating up in Wantagh
If you had asked Anthony Suppa as a kid what he wanted to be when he grew up, his response would be to cook as a chef in an Italian restaurant — and that is exactly what he did.
“For my entire life, I’ve wanted to run a pizzeria-restaurant,” said Suppa, the Massapequa native. “I have a big Italian family from Sicily, so it was the way to go.”
After coming out of a six-year stint in the Marine Corps at 25 and then working as a manager of a restaurant in East Meadow, Suppa decided that it was his turn to open up his own place.
“I didn’t want to work for somebody my entire life and have them live my dream,” Suppa said. “I went to culinary school while I was managing and for seven days a week I worked and breathed only food. It was my uncle who came to me with the idea of opening Oregano Joe’s.”
After discussing the plan with his uncle, Ralph Belfiore, Suppa decided to go through with developing the small restaurant. Now at 29, Suppa is the new owner of Oregano Joe’s, an Italian restaurant and bistro located on Wantagh Avenue. The spot has been open for a little more than a year and was named after his cousin, Joe.
“Wantagh is a great town and we are very community-oriented,” Suppa said. “As local merchants, we should all get involved and help promote each other.”
Suppa said that his restaurant has engaged in various fundraising events and donated to local charities including the John Theissen Children’s Foundation and the Wantagh School District. The restaurant was also able to raise $300 and collect 600 toys for the Toys for Tots program.
“The hardest part of just being a small business owner is just keeping on top of everything, figuring out what the community wants and just working seven days a week,” he said. “Even when you’re off, you’re not really off. Remember, this is my baby!”
Suppa also gives discounts to EMTs, military members, firefighters and other groups who contribute back to the town. Oregano Joe’s also belongs to the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce and has hosted meetings in the restaurant.
“I‘ve been coming here for a year now for my lunch break,” said Omar Clay, a Hempstead resident who works in Wantagh. “I like it because they have a variety of pizza and it’s always pretty good. I never eat the same slice.”
Overall, Suppa said he enjoys serving the Wantagh community and making a name for himself. “When it comes to pizza, or food for that matter, you have to figure out what people want,” Suppa added. “Between my family and I, we work hard and give it our all. Like I said, it’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid and some days, I even dream about the place!”
