An old picture (photographer unknown) depicts a young Stacy Traviss standing in the Giuseppe’s kitchen with the original owner Joseph, or Giuseppe in Italian, in the late 1990s-early 2000s. A few years later, it would be only Traviss in the kitchen working, while Joseph and Maria enjoyed retirement. | Photo by Marissa Mork

A Giuseppe’s success story

Dishwasher takes over restaurant from Italian founder and head chef.

By Marissa Mork | Storyteller

Just 4 miles northwest of Bethel University lives the cozy, Giuseppe’s Italian Ristorante, owned by Stacy Traviss, mother of three. Stacy Traviss has been working at Giuseppe’s since age 16, when she started out as a dishwasher.

The founder of Giuseppe’s, Joseph (Giuseppe, in Italian) Cecere, first came to the US by boat from Italy. Since buying the restaurant, Traviss, like the original owner, continued the roles of manager and head chef. Traviss has been committed to including family in the business and staying connected to customers. Enlisting help from her husband, mother, and children, as well as others close to them.

Produced and filmed by Marissa Mork

When familiar customers come into the restaurant, they are greeted by name and shown a genuine interest in by the staff. By the end of their meal, customers leave physically and emotionally fulfilled.

Giuseppe’s server Ted Bougie laughs while talking with Traviss at work. Afterward, Bougie was asked how he felt about working at Giuseppe’s. | Photo by Marissa Mork

“I love working here,” server Ted Bougie said, “Great food and great people to work with.”

Traviss, occasionally accompanied by her mother, begins each work vday, Tuesday through Saturday, by baking fresh loaves of bread in Giuseppe’s kitchen. She restocks and preps foods as needed, cooking certain dishes such as gnocchi, lasagna and bread pudding from scratch.

“I love the food, the people, and the atmosphere. Everything about Giuseppe’s makes me feel at home.” –Ada Vanderbilt, host

Traviss also works every day the restaurant is open, being the only one with enough knowledge and experience to handle evening rushes, making it tricky to be able to take a day off work for a vacation or sick day.

A table is set at Giuseppe’s before opening. The rustic Italian charm and comfortable atmosphere of the interior show the enticing nature of Giuseppe’s. | Photo by Marissa Mork

“I love the food, the people, and the atmosphere,” host Ada Vanderbilt said. “Everything about Giuseppe’s makes me feel at home.”

Directions to Giuseppe’s Italian Ristorante from Bethel University | Google Maps