An identity that doesn't change
At first glance, that of Antonio Matarazzo It might seem like a familiar story: an entrepreneur who arrived in the United States, building growth over time, and consolidating results year after year. Just listen to him to understand the point.
After more than twenty years overseas, Matarazzo continues to define himself as an Italian entrepreneur in America. It's a precise position. His way of working, making decisions, and reading people stems from a foundation he developed long before leaving.
His story unfolds like a continuous thread, one of hard work and endurance. Nothing came easily. It was a long, often arduous process, sustained by a discipline that never needed to be declared.
The value of sacrifice
Looking back, what stands out most are the sacrifices: the time taken away from personal life, the constant pressure, the responsibility of pursuing a project relentlessly. The result remains tied to what it cost to achieve it.
There's a simple phrase that runs through her entire journey. Her grandmother always repeated it to her: “those who work deserve the reward”. Not as a generic encouragement, but as a concrete rule. A principle that over time has become a method.
In that sentence, we find his vision of business: no shortcuts, no passive waiting. Just hard work, consistency, and faith that results will arrive when they're truly built.
Italy and global vision
His outlook remains clear. Italy is a complex country, with obvious limitations, yet endowed with a cultural and creative strength that continues to generate value. Those who work abroad become its ambassadors; those who stay to build every day support its growth.
This vision is also reflected in the way he describes the American market: a demanding system, where the initial stages can be quicker, while the operational reality requires time, structure, and patience.
A Washington, Permit processes drag on for months before reaching the final stage. There are professionals who can help with orientation, but the system remains complex. Once the activity is underway, the context is more fluid and the level of requirements increases significantly.
In recent years, the market has become tougher: rising labor costs, inflation, more expensive imports. Margins are shrinking, competition is growing. Solidity, focus, and consistency are needed. Quality becomes the starting point.
The moment of truth
The most delicate moment came with the pandemic. A sharp transition. Investments had just been made, businesses were underway, and then the lockdown.
The decision comes directly. Together with the partner Matteo Venini, Matarazzo chooses to move forward. The group linked to Stellina Pizzeria, with its four locations in the DMV area, remains operational while its modalities, organization and offerings change.
Work is rapidly shifting to new solutions: packaging, branding, takeout, catering. The relationship with the customer is rethought and maintained in different ways. Spaces are also transformed, becoming points of passage, distribution, and contact.
It's a construction phase. The ability to adapt without losing one's identity becomes the key element.
The value of people
In this balance, the role of the partner is crucial. Sharing decisions, a common direction, the ability to divide responsibilities while maintaining alignment. Alongside this, the staff: people who have grown over time, reflecting a method even more than an organization.
His path is based on simple elements: continuity, hard work, and the ability to adapt. Added to these are a background that combines economics, international experience, and a strong focus on marketing, an integral part of the project.
A look towards the future
Today, the focus is broadening. Alongside the restaurant business, a tourism-related project is taking shape. The idea is to bring attention to Avellino and Irpinia, a region that is still little-known outside of Italy.
The goal is to build a real connection between two worlds, offering visitors a more authentic experience, far from the more predictable paths. This work takes time and follows the same logic that built everything else.
A clear direction
Ultimately, one clear impression remains. Antonio has maintained a recognizable direction, adapting the context to his own way of working.
He regards America with respect, recognizing its opportunities and its ability to reward merit. Italy remains his point of reference. It has remained there, both as a source and as a horizon.
And perhaps this is the most precise feature of his story.
Continuity.
The way it is built, day after day.
If she could meet the boy who left years ago today, she would know what to say to him.
A short, essential sentence:
“I’m proud of you.”.
