Tony Spoletini

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[00:33] SPEAKER_00: It's Calgary's podcast on the Canada's podcast network.
[00:51] SPEAKER_01: Hello, this is Mario Toneguzi coming to you today
[00:54] SPEAKER_01: with Calgary's podcast, a member of Canada's podcast network,
[00:58] SPEAKER_01: where we talk to the entrepreneurs who are making it happen
[01:01] SPEAKER_01: here in the city of Calgary, Alberta.
[01:04] SPEAKER_01: Tony Spolotini is a co-founder and co-owner of Spolumbos,
[01:08] SPEAKER_01: a very popular Italian restaurant and deli.
[01:12] SPEAKER_01: He's also a former Canadian football league player.
[01:15] SPEAKER_01: Welcome to the show, Tony, and thanks for taking the time today
[01:18] SPEAKER_01: to be here for our listeners.
[01:19] SPEAKER_01: Always my pleasure, Mario. I always love talking to you.
[01:21] SPEAKER_01: Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you're from,
[01:25] SPEAKER_01: and what your business is all about.
[01:26] SPEAKER_02: Well, I'm a born and raised Calgaryen born at the old general hospital,
[01:30] SPEAKER_02: you know, back in 1965.
[01:33] SPEAKER_02: I'm a son of Italian immigrants who came after World War II
[01:36] SPEAKER_02: and started new life here in Calgary.
[01:40] SPEAKER_02: Went to St. Francis High School.
[01:41] SPEAKER_02: That's where my football career actually played a year of ban on
[01:44] SPEAKER_02: before for the Westman and then St. Francis High School.
[01:48] SPEAKER_02: From St. Francis, got the opportunity to play for the University of Calgary.
[01:51] SPEAKER_02: And then had a chance to play pro, a couple years in Edmonton,
[01:55] SPEAKER_02: three with the come home with the stamp eaters.
[01:57] SPEAKER_02: And then shortly after that, started Dust,
[02:00] SPEAKER_02: Palombo's with my cousin Tom Spolotini and Mike Palombo,
[02:03] SPEAKER_02: both former CFL football players also.
[02:06] SPEAKER_01: Did you need financing to start your company and how has business been for you since then?
[02:11] SPEAKER_02: Actually, we're lucky because we went to the best bank of all our parents.
[02:15] SPEAKER_02: You know, we didn't need a ton of merit,
[02:17] SPEAKER_02: but we needed a little bit, just some seed money to get us going.
[02:20] SPEAKER_02: And so, you know what, we borrowed a bit of money from our parents.
[02:23] SPEAKER_02: And you know what, we bit the bullet.
[02:26] SPEAKER_02: The first four or five years, actually, we didn't even take any salaries the first two or three years.
[02:32] SPEAKER_02: And we paid them back right away, always paid our suppliers.
[02:36] SPEAKER_02: And then slowly after that, just started building some capital in our business.
[02:40] SPEAKER_01: What is your long-term vision for the company and what it will look like in the future?
[02:45] SPEAKER_01: Do you have plans for expansion?
[02:47] SPEAKER_02: So, initially, Mayor, we know, being a Calgaryen,
[02:50] SPEAKER_02: we were always big fans of Peter's driving.
[02:53] SPEAKER_02: And, you know, Peter's had that one location and they were, you know, Canadian, renowned.
[02:58] SPEAKER_02: And so, we were kind of reluctant to franchise.
[03:02] SPEAKER_02: But then, as, you know, 20 years down the road,
[03:04] SPEAKER_02: there's some neat opportunities came up, an opportunity at SAIT,
[03:07] SPEAKER_02: an opportunity at the airport, at the US Terminal.
[03:11] SPEAKER_02: And now there's some opportunities to maybe partner up with some of our grocery partners
[03:16] SPEAKER_02: to get our brand out.
[03:17] SPEAKER_02: And so, we started branching out, not just sausage and catering,
[03:21] SPEAKER_02: but we started doing sauce and we started doing some different take home products.
[03:25] SPEAKER_02: So, that is the future, I believe, is just more take home stuff,
[03:30] SPEAKER_02: maybe some more little locations or maybe some more satellites within some of the partners
[03:36] SPEAKER_02: that we're already doing business with.
[03:38] SPEAKER_01: What are the biggest benefits for you being an entrepreneur in Calgary?
[03:42] SPEAKER_01: What are some of the good points of doing business here?
[03:45] SPEAKER_01: What are some of the tough things and challenges that entrepreneurs should be aware of as well?
[03:51] SPEAKER_02: So, I think Calgary is probably one of the greatest places in the world to be an entrepreneur.
[03:55] SPEAKER_02: That Western spirit, Mayor, everyone admires somebody trying to make their own ways, so to speak.
[04:02] SPEAKER_02: So, you know what? I think people admired the fact that once we got done football
[04:06] SPEAKER_02: that we were trying to create our own business.
[04:09] SPEAKER_02: Now, the good thing about that is someone here is always willing to give you a chance.
[04:13] SPEAKER_02: Now, you got to back it up with a good product and you back it up with good service.
[04:17] SPEAKER_02: And I believe then everyone's going to have your back and knock on wood.
[04:20] SPEAKER_02: We've been able to do that 27 years later.
[04:23] SPEAKER_02: We're still around. So, Calgary, Calgary is a flawed risk.
[04:27] SPEAKER_02: I think they applaud anybody that's willing to try and make themselves better.
[04:34] SPEAKER_02: And so, we were lucky to be in a city that had our back.
[04:38] SPEAKER_01: So, we do some of our best work outside the office.
[04:41] SPEAKER_01: Is there a place in Calgary where you like to go to spend some time to think about your business, to be inspired, to recharge your batteries?
[04:51] SPEAKER_02: Actually, you know, Mayor, I don't have to go far. I'm kind of blessed that where I live, we back on to a beautiful ridge up in the Northwest Calgary there at scenic acres.
[05:00] SPEAKER_02: And it's just above Noel's Hill.
[05:02] SPEAKER_02: And so, we got this nice ridge. So, a lot of times, winter or summer, the sun kind of shines on our backyard.
[05:08] SPEAKER_02: So, I just like to sit out there, Mayor, look out into the ridge. You know, there's partridge in that little ridge.
[05:14] SPEAKER_02: It's nice and quiet. And just being in the back, just chilling, you know, being at home, and you know, just looking out onto the, you can see the mountains.
[05:23] SPEAKER_02: And I feel like I'm out of town, but I'm not. And I just, you know, I like to sit out there and just reflect.
[05:30] SPEAKER_02: And, you know, I do a lot of my best thinking out there, especially in the morning when no one's around.
[05:34] SPEAKER_01: A hypothetical question for you. Imagine you were to start all over again, and you just move to Calgary, but this time you don't know anyone.
[05:43] SPEAKER_01: Knowing what you know now, what would you do, and how would you do it to start all over again as an entrepreneur?
[05:50] SPEAKER_02: Well, I tell you what, Mayor, I'd be really super scared, especially right now with the economic climate we're in now.
[05:55] SPEAKER_02: But having said that, I would always just tell someone, don't over promise, don't overspend, you know, some, an old Italian guy, my dad said to me,
[06:06] SPEAKER_02: you pay your suppliers always. If you have employees, you pay them. And then if there's anything left over, you keep it for yourself, because what you don't want to do, Mayor, you don't want to own money, and you don't want to, excuse my language, screw people.
[06:20] SPEAKER_02: And if you can do that, and you can ride those first couple years, you know, and maybe you've got some money put away, or maybe you've got a borrow a little money, but just try and have a good reputation that you pay on time, you take care of your people, you provide a great product, and everything else will take care of itself.
[06:40] SPEAKER_01: What does the first hour of your day look like when you get up in the morning? Do you have a specific ritual or routine to get you going?
[06:47] SPEAKER_02: Actually, just recently started working out again, which is good, but when I get to work, I mean in the old days, we did everything.
[06:55] SPEAKER_02: You come in, you start cutting cheese, you start making sausage, you start doing everything, you know, 27 years later now, I've kind of earned the right where I come in, I have a cup of coffee, usually meet a couple of buddies.
[07:08] SPEAKER_02: I'm sitting out in the middle of the deli, I'm watching, you know, everybody just, you know, doing their normal tasks.
[07:15] SPEAKER_02: And so that first hour, I just like to just sit and just watch everything operate. And an older gentleman, a businessman once told me that, you know, your business is good shape is when you're able to take a step back, and it can operate without you having to be there 24-7.
[07:33] SPEAKER_02: So in the mornings, I like to just sit there and just watch the whole operation run and have a coffee and just kind of absorb.
[07:41] SPEAKER_01: Do you think entrepreneurs have to be weird or unique or just wired differently? No, Mayor, I just think you got to be able to want to take the risk.
[07:52] SPEAKER_02: And having said that 26 years ago, when you have nothing, it's easy to lose nothing.
[07:57] SPEAKER_02: You know, fast forward to now, when you do have to do moves like you just asked me, you know, what's what are you looking at, expansion, whatever.
[08:05] SPEAKER_02: You think them way more thoroughly now because there is so much more to risk, you know, 27 years later.
[08:11] SPEAKER_02: So I don't think you have to be quirky. I just think you got to be willing to believe in yourself and just willing to take a chance.
[08:18] SPEAKER_02: And not let that destroy you or make you feel bad if it doesn't work out.
[08:28] SPEAKER_01: Okay, are there any books you're reading right now and any books you recommend to entrepreneurs?
[08:34] SPEAKER_02: Actually, I'm not... To be quite honest, Mayor, if I do read, I just read sports-related books.
[08:40] SPEAKER_02: You know, as far as business goes, I just kind of... I just always went on my gut, you know, and I'm not trying to say that it isn't good to...
[08:52] SPEAKER_02: But I'm blessed that I've got so many friends that are successful in other businesses. And I'm just going to, you know, not the name drop, but, you know, Marshall Toner and Commercial Real Estate.
[09:01] SPEAKER_02: You know, my cousin Tom looks after our wholesale and my partner Mike is in the plant and, you know, I've got another buddy, buddies in home development and cement.
[09:11] SPEAKER_02: So instead of reading books, I actually have live podcasts when we meet for lunch like Friday.
[09:17] SPEAKER_02: We have this group called The Friday Club and we meet and we tell funny stories and we joke about our culture.
[09:22] SPEAKER_02: But a lot of times, we're discussing, you know, business. And so I've had these role models like Joe and Frank and my cousin Tom and my partner Mike
[09:30] SPEAKER_02: and guys like Marshall that have their own perspective and other businesses that I'm able to steal ideas off of.
[09:38] SPEAKER_01: Okay. Are there any tools that you use on a daily basis, whether they're online or offline?
[09:46] SPEAKER_02: No, I think just, again, not to be repetitive is just good service.
[09:53] SPEAKER_02: Just making sure the quality is there. Attention to detail, you know, just making sure that, you know, if you're, you and I are having a coffee, my head's always on a swivel, just making sure that, hey, you know, is that customer, they're way too long.
[10:05] SPEAKER_02: You know, is there food brought out in the, in the plight fashion? So I think it's just, again, Mario, attention to detail.
[10:12] SPEAKER_01: How do you balance work and how do you relax and not think about work? And are there any favorite things you like to do in Calgary?
[10:19] SPEAKER_02: Well, you know what, I'm a big part of my life has been sport. So when I started having kids and they were old enough to, you know, play hockey or lacrosse or football, especially football, I got into coaching.
[10:30] SPEAKER_02: And so I really enjoyed my time away from work of being on the field with the kids or I've been fortunate enough to be part of some nice groups like the time sportsman dinner association or the
[10:49] SPEAKER_02: community and even do some like charity barbecues or that, you know, that sort of thing. So that that's always been a passion is, you know, being able to give back and being able to get out there in the community.
[11:00] SPEAKER_02: Now if you weren't doing what you do now, what would you like to do for a profession or a career? You know what, Mayor, I think I would have liked to maybe have pursued coaching, you know, I love the game. I think it's funny because you see the game
[11:17] SPEAKER_02: so much better, you know, after you're finished that I just I love watching the young athletes now they're everything like in life technology. And there's just so there's so much better shape better training they can do so much more than what we used to do.
[11:33] SPEAKER_02: So it's nice to be able to maybe give them some tips or help them become better and just watch, you know, what these incredible young athletes can do now.
[11:42] SPEAKER_01: In business, is there a favorite word phrase sentence or quote that you like to use?
[11:49] SPEAKER_02: I think the word would be probably two words, passion and heart, you know, be passionate about what you do and do it with a lot of heart like, you know, give everything of yourself.
[12:01] SPEAKER_02: What about at least favorite words? I think would be tardiness. I think would be ignorant.
[12:10] SPEAKER_02: You know, you need to be on time. You need to pay attention to people so you don't want to be, you know, arrogance arrogance for probably I just hate.
[12:20] SPEAKER_02: I hate arrogance in business mayor because I believe from your dishwasher to your catering manager, everybody is the same.
[12:31] SPEAKER_02: And if you treat everybody the same, you know, it's got it's got to go on a football team mayor, your special teams guy or your reserve guy.
[12:37] SPEAKER_02: The good teams that individual is just as important as your star quarterback. And if you don't have that mayor, then I don't feel there's any respect.
[12:46] SPEAKER_01: If you had to pick one or two words to describe yourself, what would they be and why?
[12:52] SPEAKER_02: Okay, I would say generous and I would say funny.
[12:59] SPEAKER_02: Okay, what is there anything that keeps you up at night?
[13:02] SPEAKER_02: My kids. No, just, you know, just making sure that, you know, we live up to our obligations, you know, that we're, we're keeping up to our standards that that that that we're not getting complacent.
[13:18] SPEAKER_02: That that are like I get that we're that we're we're still producing the same high quality product that we produce 27 years ago.
[13:25] SPEAKER_01: Okay, now everybody these days are talks about a bucket list and inspired life list. What's on top of your bucket list?
[13:34] SPEAKER_02: Well, you know what mayor, a lot of those gentlemen that I mentioned to you that we have lunch with I've been able to do so many incredible things with them like go see, you know, football games all over, you know, North America.
[13:45] SPEAKER_02: And and and even just this business, Pellumbos has enabled Tom Mike and I to be able to take our families on some incredible journeys like being able to take the family back to Italy.
[13:57] SPEAKER_02: And you know, show them where their grandparents came from.
[14:01] SPEAKER_02: So I am more or less live in my bucket list mayor being able to to take my family and and spend time with my friends and and go do things that we weren't able to do, you know, 25 even even 15 years ago.
[14:15] SPEAKER_01: We're building our business now over the years. I'm sure you've received a lot of advice from people. Is there anything that you can think of that you can pass along to entrepreneurs again just what we had mentioned earlier.
[14:28] SPEAKER_02: Do not spend more money than you make I know that is the tip of the simple Italian adage don't don't don't spend more money than you make and just just deliver what you say you're going to deliver.
[14:40] SPEAKER_02: If I'm if I promised you X mayor, I better deliver X or else your name means nothing.
[14:46] SPEAKER_01: Can you ask you a kind of a different question here, Tony. There's a small tropical island just off of Fiji.
[14:53] SPEAKER_01: They only has one phone booth there with no internet. We're going to drop you off there and you won't have a computer or smartphone tablet, any kind of device.
[15:02] SPEAKER_01: You can use the phone booth located there anytime to call the boat and will come pick you up. Now how long do you think you would last before you made that phone call and what do you think you would do there.
[15:14] SPEAKER_02: I think I could last a week to 10 days because I'm I think I'm a little bit attention deficit where I need to but I think I like to debrief.
[15:26] SPEAKER_02: So I think I could fish swim, you know, eat fruit, you know, just just chill out for you know, good week to 10 days and then I have to I have to get back and see my family and my friends and get back.
[15:40] SPEAKER_02: I love Calgary and I love I love living in the city. But yeah, I'm good for pockets of quiet time, but yeah, I couldn't last more than seven to 10 days.
[15:50] SPEAKER_02: How can our listeners get a hold of you Tony and is there anything you would like to add?
[15:54] SPEAKER_02: You know what come down say hello, come down to spalambos you can get a hold of me, you know, through our website, you know, Tony at spalambos.com.
[16:04] SPEAKER_02: I call the office. I'll put you through to my you know, my office and I always do my best to to get back to people within a couple days or have a representative of mine, get back within a couple days.
[16:18] SPEAKER_02: And yeah, now I just come say hi and we'll share some lunch together.
[16:24] SPEAKER_01: Thanks Tony for being our guest on Calgary's podcast. I've learned a lot about you, your business and I'm sure our listeners have as well.
[16:33] SPEAKER_01: Hey there, thanks for taking the time today to listen to Calgary's podcast on Canada's podcast network.
[16:40] SPEAKER_01: We hope you enjoyed the show today. Make sure you sign up for our newsletters and write a review for us on iTunes and then connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn at Canada's podcast.
[16:55] SPEAKER_01: You can also check out what other entrepreneurs are doing across the country. See you next time.