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In his line of work, Gus Genetti gets to meet a lot of people from out of town and they continually affirm his belief that the area’s biggest strength is its people.

It’s too bad the locals don’t see things from his perspective, says the Wilkes-Barre hotelier.

Genetti is one of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s biggest boosters and has shown his support in the 52 years he’s been in business in downtown Wilkes-Barre. He started his hotel career in 1959 in Hazleton and moved here in 1963.

In his 76 years he’s learned a lot and done a lot and plans to keep busy in the business.

Where did you go to college?

I graduated from high school at Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pa., then joined the U.S. Army, they placed me as an electronic technician working with atomic weapons. Go figure!

What was your first job out of college?

After the Army, I worked in the maintenance department at my dad’s hotel on Route 309 in Hazleton. I went into the gas station business and worked hard at it until I went broke eight months later. The Penn Fern Oil Company (the Harry May family) let me out of my lease. God bless them!

What has been the best advice you received in business?

Best Advice I ever got? In 1975 we were at a table with bankers in Williamsport. I was asking for an $800,000 loan to buy the old Lycoming Hotel that was approaching bankruptcy. They said “yes” and I kept on selling. Attorney Gene Roth leaned over, touched my arm and said, “Gus, you can’t get better than a YES!”

If your business had a limitless budget, what would be three things you would do differently?

I would restore the two historic hotels we own to greatness!

What are our area’s biggest strengths and weaknesses?

The strength is surely the people who grew up and live here. What character they have, hard working, loyal, honest, kind and generous.

The weakness? The people. We are so much better in the valley than we realize on so many levels. I deal with people that visit our area every day. They are impressed with so much of our city. “We have met the enemy and it is us,” as Pogo says.

Where did you grow up?

A four-acre mink ranch in Sugarloaf, Pa.

Tell us about your family.

Mom was a rebel, ran away from McAdoo, was one of the young gals that rode a horse from a platform into a tank of water on the Steel Pier in Atlantic City. Became a hostess in my dad’s restaurant and the rest is history.

Dad was butcher, mink rancher, banker, restaurateur and hotel owner.

Brother Bill runs the family hotel in Hazleton where I started, just retired early this year at age 80.

Sister Marianne recently passed, she was a member of MENSA. I never knew that. No wonder I never could figure her out (or she, me) but we ended up close buddies in spite of that.

Val, wife, Registered Nurse, best wife I could have hoped for.

I was so smart she picked me!

Six children, of course, they are ALL outstanding (as are your’s, I’m sure).

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

Get the newspaper and coffee for Val.

What’s the last thing you do at night before you fall asleep?

Read a “very small part of ” a book.

Where’s your favorite place to go on vacation?

Italy, Europe, the world.

What’s your favorite restaurant and/or meal?

You mean other than Oyster? Hmmm, Cafe Toscana, Grico’s, Perigino’s, Jonathon’s at Harveys Lake, Kevin’s, OK, so we love most restaurants.

Val and I cried, really cried when Damenti’s burned down. So did our children. We used to date there 54 years ago. Chicken Parmesan.

What’s your biggest fear?

Not being able to make a difference in what I do.

AND being bored.

Way back when airline hijacking meant just sitting in a plane in a desert with nothing to read, I used to think, how terrible, days on end of having nothing to read. I’d go nuts.

What do you want to do when you retire?

Well, let’s see, I’m 76. Retire?

Hmmmmm, can I get back to you on that?

Genetti
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_MeetGusGenetti1.jpg.optimal.jpgGenetti

Gus Genetti.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_GusGenetti11.jpg.optimal.jpgGus Genetti.

By Jerry Lynott

[email protected]

Getting to know Gus

Age: 76

Title: Owner

Business: Best Western Genetti Hotel & Conference Center

Location: Wilkes-Barre

Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLNews