July 25, 2025 • 4 mins
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good news happening this weekend and it's back. This is
this is huge and in fact, folks from all over
are going to come from well not just a state
but probably regonally do enjoy the West Michigan Italian Festival.
And in the studio with us right now, talk a
little bit about this. Greg Russo and Stephanie Scott, thank you.
Welcome in, guys.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
We appreciate you justin. We're so happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
I'm thrute for having us you guys. You guys have
been working hard behind the scenes to make this happen.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
A man, Yes, we're so excited to bring Festa Italiana back.
It's been twenty five years and our community has been
calling for it and we got a great group of
people together that took action and it is back and
it is going to stay.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
I love that. So what can people expect? Obviously the
food is like front and center, but there's so much more.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yeah. So we have over twenty different vendors, fourteen food vendors.
We have an amazing beer and wine garden brought to
you by Imperial Beverage and the Socola Family Kids Corner,
Kids Corner, So bring the kiddos. Kiddos will get a
five dollars food and beverage ticket and they have a
place they can go to learn about the Italian culture
(01:05):
led by the Sister Cities Arts and Crafts and then
some kids BOCI too. So we are bringing the BOCI
tournament back, which was part of the original festival. Nice
and that's exciting. It's the Peter Sakia Memorial BOCI Cup
in honor of Peter Secchia and his commitment to our community.
And then we also have back again the spaghetti eating
contest sponsored by Russo's Restaurant and Market look Out.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
I know.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
So we only have room for twelve, so you can
go online and sign up before the events at West
Michigan Italian Festival dot com and then live in our
team at Justin both days five to nine. Wow, we've
got live entertainment and this all this fun and it
is yours for only one dollar. It's one dollar admission
for both days and you get a wristband to come
join the fun.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Now again, where is this If folks want to find
out more and come be a part of the all
the action.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
It's at the Tanker Outlet Mall in Byron Center right
off the eighty fourth Street exit. It's gonna be real fun.
Lots of booths with food. We've you know, we have
Italian street corn in ours, which is something new and fun,
fantastic sausage, subs, meatballs, all sorts of great things. There's
lots of food boots and food trucks there.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Yeah. I love this. I love what you guys are
doing bringing back and really just part of the hair.
Speaking of the heritage, so Greg, your family's been involved
and obviously one of the founding families here in Grand
Rapids in the area. What's this mean for you all
and for your dad and everyone involved.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Well, this is huge for us. I mean I grew
up doing the Italian Festival at the calder and you know,
working at with the family since I can remember, and uh,
you know, I'm the fifth generation in the area and uh,
you know, and in the business. So it's really exciting
to bring back the festival. Shortly after we brought our
business back to the tanger ell At Mall as well.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
So you guys are out there and I've been, by
the way, if you haven't, you got to get she
because not just the restaurant, there's you know, obviously you
can go dine in, but the market is incredible stuff
you're not going to find anywhere.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Absolutely, we have over one hundred years of sourcing great
Italian foods for the area and we're bringing it back
here again. And we homemake our Italian sausage, meatballs, sauces,
all sorts of great things. So come check us out.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
I love that. Yeah, And obviously a chance to get
and enjoy the festival one more time this weekend. Where
can folks find out more information? I'm sure to go
on line.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Stuff and West Michigan Italian Festival dot com. Also, if
listeners want to behind the scenes peak, the Lemonchello brothers,
Greg and I are out there studying up today. Stop by,
grab some lunch at Russo's and check out the behind
the scenes action of West Michigan Italian.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
That's a good way to get volunteers too, because you
never know, hey, there might be you know, there might
be a little spaghetti to go around something like that.
You just absolutely that's very cool. Well, thank you so much, guys.
Always a pleasure and very cool. A great event that
is that is coming this weekend. More details We'll make
sure we put that up on the stack too, so
that folks can get the details
Good news happening this weekend and it's back. This is
this is huge and in fact, folks from all over
are going to come from well not just a state
but probably regonally do enjoy the West Michigan Italian Festival.
And in the studio with us right now, talk a
little bit about this. Greg Russo and Stephanie Scott, thank you.
Welcome in, guys.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
We appreciate you justin. We're so happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
I'm thrute for having us you guys. You guys have
been working hard behind the scenes to make this happen.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
A man, Yes, we're so excited to bring Festa Italiana back.
It's been twenty five years and our community has been
calling for it and we got a great group of
people together that took action and it is back and
it is going to stay.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
I love that. So what can people expect? Obviously the
food is like front and center, but there's so much more.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yeah. So we have over twenty different vendors, fourteen food vendors.
We have an amazing beer and wine garden brought to
you by Imperial Beverage and the Socola Family Kids Corner,
Kids Corner, So bring the kiddos. Kiddos will get a
five dollars food and beverage ticket and they have a
place they can go to learn about the Italian culture
(01:05):
led by the Sister Cities Arts and Crafts and then
some kids BOCI too. So we are bringing the BOCI
tournament back, which was part of the original festival. Nice
and that's exciting. It's the Peter Sakia Memorial BOCI Cup
in honor of Peter Secchia and his commitment to our community.
And then we also have back again the spaghetti eating
contest sponsored by Russo's Restaurant and Market look Out.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
I know.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
So we only have room for twelve, so you can
go online and sign up before the events at West
Michigan Italian Festival dot com and then live in our
team at Justin both days five to nine. Wow, we've
got live entertainment and this all this fun and it
is yours for only one dollar. It's one dollar admission
for both days and you get a wristband to come
join the fun.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Now again, where is this If folks want to find
out more and come be a part of the all
the action.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
It's at the Tanker Outlet Mall in Byron Center right
off the eighty fourth Street exit. It's gonna be real fun.
Lots of booths with food. We've you know, we have
Italian street corn in ours, which is something new and fun,
fantastic sausage, subs, meatballs, all sorts of great things. There's
lots of food boots and food trucks there.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Yeah. I love this. I love what you guys are
doing bringing back and really just part of the hair.
Speaking of the heritage, so Greg, your family's been involved
and obviously one of the founding families here in Grand
Rapids in the area. What's this mean for you all
and for your dad and everyone involved.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Well, this is huge for us. I mean I grew
up doing the Italian Festival at the calder and you know,
working at with the family since I can remember, and uh,
you know, I'm the fifth generation in the area and uh,
you know, and in the business. So it's really exciting
to bring back the festival. Shortly after we brought our
business back to the tanger ell At Mall as well.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
So you guys are out there and I've been, by
the way, if you haven't, you got to get she
because not just the restaurant, there's you know, obviously you
can go dine in, but the market is incredible stuff
you're not going to find anywhere.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Absolutely, we have over one hundred years of sourcing great
Italian foods for the area and we're bringing it back
here again. And we homemake our Italian sausage, meatballs, sauces,
all sorts of great things. So come check us out.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
I love that. Yeah, And obviously a chance to get
and enjoy the festival one more time this weekend. Where
can folks find out more information? I'm sure to go
on line.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Stuff and West Michigan Italian Festival dot com. Also, if
listeners want to behind the scenes peak, the Lemonchello brothers,
Greg and I are out there studying up today. Stop by,
grab some lunch at Russo's and check out the behind
the scenes action of West Michigan Italian.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
That's a good way to get volunteers too, because you
never know, hey, there might be you know, there might
be a little spaghetti to go around something like that.
You just absolutely that's very cool. Well, thank you so much, guys.
Always a pleasure and very cool. A great event that
is that is coming this weekend. More details We'll make
sure we put that up on the stack too, so
that folks can get the details
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