By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | Twitter: @JasonWBrooks2

Some of the recent changes Floridino’s Pasta and Pizza has made grew out of COVID-19.

Some of the north Chandler restaurant’s most established, well-loved products seem to have been around forever.

That is, if forever means June 1996.

That’s when Shaun Kelley and his business partner, Jeff Weninger, opened Floridino’s on Alma School Road, just north of Chandler Boulevard.

“Jeff and I both worked for my dad (Gil) at a Carlos O’Kelly’s Mexican restaurant he owned in Wichita, Kansas,” Kelley said. “Dad retired out here, where he’s from, and found this place, opened it up and brought us on, and a few years later, we bought it from him.”

About 30 years ago, Kelley and Weninger opened Dilly’s Deli at Price Road and Southern Avenue in Tempe. Then, in 1996, after a friend of Kelley’s father sold them the building on Alma School Road, Floridino’s ended up replacing a Zio Johno’s Italian restaurant.

“It took a couple of years to break even,” Kelley said. “But we stuck it out, and we’re glad we did.”

The late 90s and early 2000s were when word-of-mouth, door-hanger and windshield flier advertising were still key ways for a restaurant to get its name out there.

Remaining popular with both area retirees and travelers has been important, Kelley said.

Kelley said residents of the Sun Lakes developments, despite living about nine miles from Floridino’s, have always been a big part of the customer base — especially in the “snowbird” winter and spring months.

“The Sun Lakes folks found us early on,” Kelley said. “They still make their way up here, and we’re really grateful for their support.”

Floridino’s is probably best known for its pizza muffins. The rolled breaded treats, filled with cheese, sauce and more, have long been a favorite.

A wide variety of calzones and pizzas, as one would expect from a full-service Italian place, are popular staples as well.

Kelley and Weninger bought out three spaces adjoining their corner spot in their shopping center and remodeled in 2015. Then, in 2020, like many businesses that had depended on in-person, face-to-face service, Floridino’s faced one of its biggest challenges: the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We turned the whole parking lot into a dining room full of people in cars,” Kelley said. “We had about 60 spaces out there, and our customers were so appreciative. We wouldn’t be here right now if a pandemic would have hit in 1996.”

There are still about a dozen parking stalls devoted to carry-out parking. Kelley said some customers love the carry-out service and plans to continue it indefinitely.

A set of cocktail drinks, served in jars, were another COVID-19 invention, based on dine-in and carry-out state pandemic restrictions that changed more than once. Those jars of tasty alcohol are still around.

Kelley said keeping prices reasonable and running specials have been important as well. So is dealing with first-time customers who have complaints.

“One of the things we really haven’t focused on is tourists, just because we have strong numbers on Yelp and other review sites,” Kelley said. “So we get some by social media and online.”

Kelley said it’s essential to believe that a “mess-up” can be turned into a longtime customer.

“One negative review outweighs 10 positive ones,” he said. “It’s imperative to try to do right by every customer, whatever that means to each one.”

Kelley said he’d like to expand the catering truck side of the business, which has been useful at big public events.

Kelley, 57, said he’ll stick with restauranting “as long as my employees will put up with me.”

He said any new business owners should first secure significant cash to make sure they can take a loss for the first couple of years.

“Keep doing what you know is right,” Kelley said.

Floridino’s is at 590 N. Alma School Road. It can be reached at 480-812-8433, through its Facebook page or through floridinos.net.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.

Floridino’s co-owner Shaun Kelley and an employee wait on a dine-in order to be completed by kitchen staff. The Italian restaurant has been trying to keep prices reasonable since it opened in 1996.

Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent
@JasonWBrooks2

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.