Cesare Mammarella, Owner

1. Where did you grow up? Italy, Switzerland, Connecticut
2. How did that influence you? Diversity, cultural differences, food, art, peoples view of life there versus here in the U.S. “Work to live” versus “live to work” mentality
3. What is your favorite thing to do in Macon? Love walking downtown, any day, any time. Eating at one of the local restaurants. Second Sunday brunch at Park, Bragg Jam, Film Festival, Sunday night movies.
4. What is one thing that people would not see at first glance? My tattoos, my silly side, my introverted side.
5. What has been the most significant accomplishment in your life? Why? Before my son was born I would have said something like being successful in my line of work, being recognized for my achievements. Now it's making sure he grows up to be a kinder, smarter and better person than I.
6. Do you have a hidden talent? Don’t we all?
7. What movie would best describe you? Bronx Tale. I am that character. That movie mirrors my upbringing except it took place in the 70’s and 80’s not the 50’s and 60’s .
8. What do you do best? I wear myself out with my expectations for myself. At times they are unrealistic. At first this doesn’t sound like something anyone would consider a “best” or positive thing. It however motivates me to push thru just about anything I have had to face in life, both personal and in business.
9. Who in your life has most influenced you? My Parents. They have a work ethic that is unobtainable for most people.
10. Tell me about a challenge that you overcame. I have Crohn’s Disease. At one point in my life it was severely active and nearly took my life. I was 30. I deal with this illness every day and feel that it has pushed me to do more than I would have had I not been at times crippled due to its effects on me mentally, physically and emotionally. I will not be controlled by it.
11. What do you do for fun in your free time? Play soccer, spend time with my family and experience new restaurants and places. I love spontaneous day trips!!
12. How do you define success? Knowing once your time in this world is done people will remember you for who you were as a person and that you helped make their community a better place
13. Who do you most admire? My father. He is hard working, a gentle husband and a stern father. He is not capable of bullshit and can fix anything with a stick of gum and a screw driver it seems at times. He is resourceful, intelligent and as a professional boxer heard he had a mean right hook.
14. Did you move around a lot? I was young when I immigrated from Italy. Since then I lived 20 years in Connecticut, then 10 years in Atlanta just before moving to Macon in 2001.
15. Are there any issues you feel passionately about? Locally, I am tired of the “old Guard” council selling fear and not getting anything accomplished. I would love to see the council reduced and term limits imposed. Nationally, I wish our leaders would focus on its backyard more than involving itself with every street fight across the world. It’s not for “democracy” as much as they sell it to be. It is what Dwight Eisenhower foresaw in his 1961 farewell address. He warned against the “military-industrial complex”. Conflict and war are becoming viable commercial sales items. Buying war toys will soon be as common and frequent as buying a newer version of a cell phone or iPad.
16. Do you have a nickname? C
17. Where is your favorite place to visit? Besides visiting my family in Italy and Canada, anywhere I haven’t been!!
18. What book are you reading right now? Waiting: True Confessions of a Waitress, A Long Way Home: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier and Chariots of the Gods.
19. What’s hot? These days anything UFO and ancient Aliens. I hear it discussed more and more. Here comes 2012!! Asian and Latin food fusion.
20. What’s not? Disposable incomes!