I imagined playing professional hockey or baseball as a kid but I can honestly say that running Butler’s Pantry was always my dream. While most kids played Cowboys and Indians or Army while growing up, we played restaurant business and that is no joke!!! Hospitality and Cooking just seems to run through our veins. A little known fact about our family would be that my ancestors were the first to produce and distribute dry pasta and canned spaghetti sauce in the U.S. As a second generation operator of Butler’s Pantry, I feel blessed to be involved in a creative, dynamic industry, blessed to be associated with top drawer patrons and many challenging events, and blessed to be working with an extremely talented staff.

While at times it feels like I have been at Butler’s Pantry forever, the truth is I had the opportunity earlier in life to have worked at some of St. Louis finest private clubs, hotels and sports venues. These diverse responsibilities were an awesome learning experience. Many of the people that I worked with during those times are still close friends and mentors. These are memories I truly cherish!

Most important to me are my five children and my understanding wife of 17 years. While finding the balance between work and home is always a challenge, I could not be as successful at either without my wife Elizabeth and our wonderful kids. I must admit that our home is always filled with somewhere to go or something to do... “never a dull moment”. But for some crazy reason, I’m not sure we would have it any other way.

When time allows I really enjoy golf, gardening and bird hunting. Travel is another passion both for relaxation and education. My favorite US city, Boston and favorite European city, Florence.

If I had to choose another profession, I think I would be interested in real estate or politics.