Famiglia Italian restaurant takes over former Sammy’s in Ancaster

Mark Falzon remains unfazed at opening a new restaurant at a time of economic uncertainty and societal upheaval.

Despite inflation, a post-COVID-19 environment, and a finicky public, Falzon says opening his Italiano Famiglia Ristorante, located in the former Sammy’s Restaurant building on Cameron Drive and Wilson Street, is something he has always wanted to do.

“I’ve always been an operations guy,” said Falzon, who was renovating the inside of the building in preparation to receive his equipment April 6. “I’m 50 years old. I can keep working for other corporations. But I thought it was time for me to do something I have always wanted to do. If I’m putting the hours in, you might as well do it for yourself.”

Falzon has, over the years, been director of Panera Bread operations and has been involved in the Wild Wing sports restaurants operations. He has served as executive director for Uncle Ben’s and Mandarin operations, and as CEO for the Marco Group Inc. consulting.

For the past few months, Falzon has been working eight- to 10-hour days renovating the former Sammy’s location, ordering equipment and implementing a design he hopes will attract Ancaster residents and Hamiltonians to his door.

“It’s going gangbusters,” he said. He is aiming for a grand opening either the last week of April or the first week of May.

Falzon sees the restaurant opening as an opportunity rather than a detriment, with the possibility of future expansion.

In this post-COVID-19 world, he doesn’t have the debt that other businesses owners are now shouldering, after they were forced to close due to pandemic restrictions.

“They encountered a lot of problems,” he said. “I will be opening up without having debt.”

The location that saw Sammy’s attract customers for decades is a great site for his restaurant, Falzon said.

“Everybody knows the location.” His restaurant will also offer something that isn’t readily available in the Ancaster and surrounding area: family-style Italian food. It means fresh ingredients, paninis, stone-oven pizzas, fresh pasta, homemade gelato, and of course, tiramisu.

The bar will be the centre of the restaurant, with a big-screen television above the fireplace. The restaurant will have indoor seating for about 65 and another 30 seats on the patio, which was popular among Sammy’s customers.

A takeout window will allow people to order refreshing gelatos, cold drinks, espressos, and, of course food.

There will be a cabinet stocked with wine and a retail display case offering dry pasta, tomato sauce, imported cherries and strawberries.

“It’s an opportunity for people to take things home with them,” he said.

And while the parking is limited at the small plaza where the restaurant is located, there are additional spots across Cameron Street for customers to use.

“People always managed to make it work,” said Falzon.

He expects to have about seven employees, as he “quarterbacks” the entire operation.

“It will be really beautiful once it is finished,” said Falzon. “We are really excited about what’s coming. I love what’s happening.”

It means fresh ingredients, paninis, stone-oven pizzas, fresh pasta, homemade gelato, and of course, tiramisu