Aldo designed the middle dining room of his restaurant, the Orlandino Room, as a replica of the street he was born on in Capo d’Orlando, Messina, Sicily. The southwest wall features the home he lived in as a boy situated next to that of his next door neighbor’s home on the northwest wall. A mural of his hometown occupies the room’s north wall (shown in photo), while the village’s wine vineyard is featured on the Orlandino Room’s south wall. (Photo by Mary Ellen Taylor)

ROCHELLE — Aldo’s Pizzeria & Italian Ristorante in downtown Rochelle is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Aldo and Tammy Barone opened their first restaurant in 1979 when the newlyweds were only 19 and 17 respectively.

“We met at another restaurant in Rockford where I was a pizza maker and Tammy was a salad girl. I took her out for the first time at 16 years old and we’ve been married 32 years now,” Aldo said. “My biggest success has been my family, my wife and little boy and daughter and three grandsons.”

His love of family spills over to his business, which he describes as a family atmosphere of employees, some of whom have been with him 15 years.

“It’s tough going today. Probably one of my biggest responsibilities is that we do a good job and continue to do so because we have over 30 people employed here and most with families. It’s important to keep them employed,” Aldo said. “When I had my accident five years ago, my employees stepped in and took everything over. Tony (Wyatt) is number one. I’ve been fortunate that way – having good people.”

For the complete article see the 11-01-2009 issue.

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