By Melissa Moore-Randall
A lifelong entrepreneurial spirit has landed Revere’s Raffaele Scalzi on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association. Scalzi is the owner of Pazza on Porter, Next Door Speakeasy and Raw Bar in East Boston, and Casa Lucia Function Facility in Revere. He is also the owner and director of New England’s largest trade beverage expo, the Boston Wine Expo, and Boston’s largest food festival, the Boston Pizza Festival. Both are annual events held in the City of Boston.
Raffaele’s career in the restaurant industry began at 15 when he worked as a busboy. “I have been in the restaurant industry for over 15 years, with experience in sales, event production, and hospitality. Over the years, I slowly learned the trade, working my way up to General Manager. Eventually, I owned my first restaurant with my brother called Casa Mia in Marblehead.”
“I recently joined the Board of Directors of the MRA in the hope of bringing a fresh perspective to the industry. The industry has changed significantly over the past 10-15 years, with challenges like price surges, inflation, and high payroll costs. I feel I can contribute more to the industry beyond just owning restaurants. The MRA serves as the voice of the industry to our state legislature, and it’s good to be part of an organization that understands the pulse of the industry.”
Scalzi grew up in Revere in a close Italian family that includes his parents, his twin sister and older brother. He attended Revere Public Schools and is a Revere High School graduate. He later attended Suffolk University.
Scalzi is in the process of opening a new Ramen and Sushi take-out location in East Boston, which should open in early 2025. “I see a shift towards take-out dining, with more people eating at home rather than dining out. My plan is to bring the restaurant experience to homes by offering branded take-out packaging with elevated ramen and sushi cuisine.”
“For anyone looking to pursue anything in life, it’s not always a linear path. Sometimes, failing forward provides the best results. Don’t give up and continue to try your best every day—good things will come out of that.”