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Vetrepreneur of the year Frank Bonanno tells how he went from the frontline to the highlife
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Introduce franc by nine -- Fellow Italian.
Hi frank.
I look pretty good I'm honored to have you line you're the president of the Fifth Avenue restaurant group and the 2012.
Metric -- -- of the year.
And most importantly you are a US army veteran thank you for coming on thinking for joining us and congratulations.
What is that that -- nor.
But it couldn't hurt me gay bashing.
Formed noted that it -- No they don't bigger company.
Yes well that would be you congratulations -- rates just people can get a sense of how wonderful you are let's -- your your biography really quickly.
You enlisted in the US army way back in 1966.
I was not born then.
Then yeah.
Yeah.
Four years later you began your civilian career working four ARA services which is now ARAMARK cracked -- got into the restaurant in the food business.
Any form her own company -- management services.
Then -- started in new venture Fairfield foods -- hello is chocolate chip cookies right which he sold to mrs.
fields convenience.
Which -- like the best -- ever.
-- -- Do you wanna talk about how that plant -- -- without like so momentous in your life that you soldier business to mrs.
fields.
-- what she really in the mrs.
-- I'm thinking she was back in 1983 and I was born.
In 1983 by the way but not -- -- -- -- I was alive I knew a mrs.
fields' cookies.
Yeah yeah yeah yeah -- -- little.
She's very yeah she she weren't certain that clearly Alnylam very very nation.
Given that didn't.
It would it would let -- dealing with there.
And is that I even you made the bulk of your money by sung your business to mrs.
fields.
Yeah we got your capital for your next and share.
Well yes get a lot of capital and then and there.
You -- in the next issue but they're also spent hello this is very young three yeah.
-- nineties -- completely different business climate.
Back then as well.
Anyway fast for a couple of years and now we're talking to you lie and the -- -- of the year as well as the owner.
A 47.
In restaurants.
In hotels and casinos mostly and Las Vegas.
Pretty impressive what we -- advice speed of people trying to get their business up and running.
Well I would be -- to.
Collect and we see really enjoyed working because when you start you -- visit.
-- and putting a lot of time you're doing is basically do everything can be done.
And -- goal here eater.
Your higher.
The -- to gain particularly -- absolutely nothing you enjoyed.
And Wyatt that the restaurant business was something that you enjoyed doing did you like I think.
I -- -- looking at -- -- the elderly Jews and America did not know that you know and hey I enjoy -- enjoy cooking -- And I just concluded -- didn't -- it's fun and exciting and very challenging yeah if you're putting its.
Didn't change very predicted.
-- that's look to you for advice I mean there are three million.
Veteran owned businesses.
Nationwide.
Right now that's that's pretty handsome number.
Do you do you how many of them today are you -- unite all role model well.
We hadn't that we hadn't had a -- actually -- You know what would soon come to -- -- persistent.
About -- I'd be I would be happy to to.
-- anyone that would would reflection and -- Yeah and why did you decide to kind.
Find your home in Las Vegas -- -- or open help that the bulk of your your business there.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- are not -- weekly.
Asia they issue here with my wife and so what was happening in the early 1980s.
And he -- this would be a great pleasure to enter this.
-- house restaurant business holding up are people spending money.
People are people -- welcome hello we are very fortunate weird we're sure -- we had hello.
Get a quick serious patient restaurant.
You have hello apple circus rational.
But.
Quick yourself.
Hey when you when you see the hotel industry -- -- almost immediately prior actually you know.
On stranger to Las Vegas so tell me where exactly you -- there.
Okay Lee.
We're in the medium -- okay.
-- -- actually yes well.
We really don't adequately can lead actor and honestly -- Media and even seen it -- trash.
Can't get national law art and get your -- out -- that we La.
Okay we are the New York you're still okay -- -- in the Luxor hotel we put that entire food -- We're in the market Carlo hotel.
We are Indian -- in hotel.
-- we can't say yes.
You feed Las Vegas we.
Made at a -- up frank and I -- thank you so much for coming nine.
We're showing your cover magazine congratulations I'm gonna show your website is well known.
Novell but dot com and house -- things look back slash nova bus as well and I haven't tit for everybody out there or more like a dare.
I next time you're in a casino just walk around -- somewhere you can gamble and -- -- -- -- can I.
Definitely.
Different.
