By james art After serving South Florida for nearly 37 years, a local restaurant was on the verge of closing its doors. But at the last minute, a customer provided a little help. Heather Walker has tonight’s 7 Spotlight.
It was all smiles outside Osteria del Teatro last year for the grand opening of its new North Bay Village location. But this Italian restaurant dates back to 1988 in South Beach.
Gilbert Gonzalez/Owner: “Started on Española Way next to the Cameo Theater.”
We featured owner Gilbert Gonzalez on Bite with Belkys last year.
Gilbert Gonzalez: “Welcome to Osteria del Teatro, try our Penne Alla Vodka, Buon Appetito”
He took over Osteria more than 20 years ago. Raphael is an employee – even longer.
Rafael Ceballos: “I started in 1992. I started as an assistant. This is my house. This is my family. These are my people. It is an institution.”
One institution – this two weeks ago – was just hours away from going out of business.
Gilbert Gonzalez: “With the size of my food expenses, my wages double and I wish I could pay my employees even more because I know they have to survive and I want them to survive.”
But now there were concerns about the restaurant’s survival.
Gilbert Gonzalez: “What happened is I ended up taking these predatory loans against processing my credit card and that put me in a corner. I sat down with all the employees and told them we would have to close the restaurant and I was sorry. Everyone was sad and crying and even offered to work a week for free if it would keep us alive.
In an Instagram post, Gilbert announced that the Osteria was “closing its doors” the following evening.
Gilbert Gonzalez: “And I felt terrible. I didn’t want to close the restaurant. I’m sorry.”
Gilbert sent an email to customers announcing the closing, and ironically, that email set off a chain of events that ultimately saved the restaurant.”
Brad Schreiberg: “My wife and I have been coming here for literally 20 years.”
Brad Schreiberg lives in Boca Raton and says his family travels here to eat several times a year.
Brad Schreiberg: “This is literally our favorite Italian restaurant. I have taken my kids many times. They’ve seen them grow up.
Brad, like other customers, received the email about the closing.
Brad Schreiberg: “My heart dropped and I looked at my wife saying, ‘We’re changing our plans,’ and we came here, which I was afraid would be the last time we’d see our friends and be able to eat here.
Rafael was Brad’s server and explained the situation.
Rafael Ceballos/Head Server: “When I told him what happened, he said, ‘Don’t worry, send me Gilbert. I’m going to talk to him. This is what I do for a living. And I can save you guys. so i start crying and the rest is history.
Brad is a bankruptcy attorney. Now he’s handling Gilbert’s case for free.
Brad Schreiberg: “Congress made a new section, if you will, of Chapter 11 to allow small businesses to reorganize.”
This will allow the Osteria to remain open.
Gilbert Gonzalez: “Everyone was excited and so happy.”
A second email, sent two days after the first, announced, “Yes, Osteria del Teatro remains open!”
Gilbert wrote that he was “overwhelmed” by the outpouring of support from customers, and Gilbert credits one in particular with saving his restaurant.
Gilbert Gonzalez: “I’m so grateful to have him in my life. Thank God.”
Brad Schreiberg: “The feeling is as rewarding as it gets. I love to see that all these employees will still have work tomorrow.”
Tomorrow and the day after. Because together Gilbert and Brad have created a recipe for the restaurant’s success.
Heather Walker, 7News.
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