Community support and a solid work ethic have always been priorities for restaurant owner Stephen Carpentier, but he had never imagined he would be living out his values in a pizzeria. Hailing from Naples, Italy, Carpentier said he was raised by immigrant parents who instilled in him the values of respecting one’s elders, working for what you have and uplifting your community. He took these values with him to college, where he studied architecture.

Upon graduation, he found job prospects were slim. So he pivoted, deciding to open Stefano’s Pizzeria and Italian Kitchen in 1994 with the intention of handing it off to a protege while he pursued architecture. However, Carpentier said he found it difficult to find people willing to match his work ethic. When a good employee was found, they were retained and welcomed in like family.