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WILKES-BARRE — Dedication, that’s the key word for Joseph “Joey” Malacari, a manager at Malacari Produce and Deli.

For the past six years the Malacari family has served the Wyoming Valley with their store, on Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard. They have worked through countless holidays and rely on taking minimal days off a year.

From a small shop beginning in August 2009, the Malacari family is looking at move in spring 2016 to the building they own on Mundy Street. They have expanded their corner produce and deli store into Christmas trees and ice cream during the winter and summer, respectively.

The 24-year-old self-proclaimed workaholic took time away from the business to talk to us.

Where did you go to college?

Luzerne County Community College, Nanticoke.

What was your major?

Business management.

What was your first job out of college?

This business.

What has been the best advice you received in business?

Courtesy of my father. He talked about handling customers and which way to handle them.

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

Oh, this is a hard question. With a limitless budget, I would make the store and parking lot bigger, add more items – different produce, things we don’t carry right now and I’d give all the employees a raise, including myself.

What are our area’s biggest strengths and weaknesses?

It’s obviously a depressed area and jobs are tough around here. But I deal with a lot of people throughout the day and for the most part, everyone is nice and you have a couple of bad eggs, otherwise, the people of the valley aren’t that bad.

Where did you grow up?

Wilkes-Barre.

Tell us about your family.

My mom and dad; my twin brother, Frankie; and my little brother, Vito. We all work at the shop, we all have different jobs and titles to make it work. We all spend at lot of time here. Vito is in school at King’s, for mass communication, everybody else wants to go into the business.

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

Get ready for work – that’s all I do. I roll out of bed and come here.

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

I usually go out to eat real quick. My favorite place is Arena (Bar and Grill on Coal Street).

Where’s your favorite place to go on vacation?

I rarely take vacations, but I guess Ocean City, Maryland.

What’s your biggest fear?

I’m not really fearful, but failing.

What’s your favorite restaurant and/or meal?

I like Arena’s pasta or pizza. My mom’s food too.

What do you want to do when you retire?

I want to move down south.

Joseph Malacari holds up a Christmas tree at his family’s store in Wilkes-Barre.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_malacari01.jpg.optimal.jpgJoseph Malacari holds up a Christmas tree at his family’s store in Wilkes-Barre. Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader

Joseph Malacari wraps wedges of cheese at his family’s store in Wilkes-Barre.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_malacari02.jpg.optimal.jpgJoseph Malacari wraps wedges of cheese at his family’s store in Wilkes-Barre. Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader

By Melanie Mizenko

[email protected]

Getting to know Joey

Name: Joseph “Joey” Malacari

Title: Manager

Business: Malacari Produce and Deli

Location: Wilkes-Barre

Reach Melanie Mizenko at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TL_MMizenko.