Eighty cheers for one of area's longest-serving waiters
He’s been serving up Italian classics for more than fifty years - and he’s got no plans to stop.
“I just love serving the customers,” says one of the area’s longest-running waiters as he celebrates his 80th birthday doing what he loves most - serving Italian food.
So known is Marcello for the Italian Marcello’s restaurant he helped set up in Albion Place, Sunderland city centre, that everyone calls him ‘Marcello’ despite that not actually being his name.
Marcello’s real name is Bonaventura Barbaro, who was raised on the Amalfi Coast before moving to London in the 1970s.
He worked in Alvaro’s in The King’s Road in Chelsea, a landmark restaurant which hosted everyone from Royalty to Rolling Stones.
Whilst in London, Marcello met wife Norma who was from Spennymoor and the pair moved to Sunderland, which started a decades-long passion for serving Italian food to North East customers.
Marcello’s career in the North began at Pinnochio in Vine Place in the late ‘70s before he opened Marcello’s, which he ran for 10 years.
“It was called Marcello’s just to give it an Italian name, but everyone just assumed it was my name and it stuck. Everyone still calls me that,” he said.
After 10 years at Marcello’s, he went on to work at Ristorante De Medici in Durham, Michelangelo’s in Neville’s Cross and Mamma Italia at The Ashbrooke back in Sunderland.
18 months ago, he embarked on a new chapter, taking over Luci’s in Cleadon Village with husband and wife team Alex and Rebecca Bennelli.
Like all the restaurants he’s worked at, Marcello has become a popular fixture at the Front Street Italian eatery.
He’s turning 80 on Friday, October 23 and is on shift at Luci’s - and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I really enjoy working, I don’t want to be sat at home. I’m still fit, so why not,” says the business owner and waiter who puts his good health down to espressos and seafood pasta.
The restaurant will be decorated for Marcello’s big day, with cakes and other celebrations.
“Marcello knows all the regulars and a lot are coming down for his birthday,” said Rebecca. “Some people come to the restaurant just to see Marcello, he’s very popular, especially with the ladies.
“He always makes people feel so welcome when they visit the restaurant. There are some customers now in their 40s that he’s been serving since they were kids.”