Vince Tavolario cares about his community.

When the formerly blighted property at the corner of West North and Main streets went up for sale last year, he opted to buy it.

Tavolario, 66, saw the purchase as a way to help revitalize the city's business district.

“I had to get involved with that,” he said.

The Butler Township man in August reopened the building as the Natili North Pizza Shoppe.

Being a part of Butler's economic development isn't new for Tavolario. He's been involved with city revitalization since he was 30.

More recently, he was president of the Butler Downtown board from 2006 to 2007.

Tavolario kept with family tradition in deciding what to do with the building at the intersection. Operating a pizza shop runs in Tavolario's family.

Back in Youngstown, Ohio, during Tavolario's childhood in the mid-1950s, his mother, Mary, used to make pizza every Friday night and give it to people in the neighborhood.

“My dad said one day, ‘Mary, why don't we start selling this,'” Tavolario said.

The family subsequently opened a pizza shop.

Tavolario uses his mother's recipe in his new business.

“You tend to want to go back to your roots,” he said.

When Tavolario was in school, he thought he was going to be a music teacher.

Little did he know his future would entail becoming a Butler restaurateur.

While attending the University of Cincinnati, Tavolario met his future wife, Jean.

Her father, John Natili, later became ill. Tavolario in 1968 started to help operate Natili's Restaurant, which had been in business on West Wayne Street since 1939.

Tavolario and his wife never left.

Pizza isn't the only recipe he brought to the businesses. Tavolario makes his own ravioli using a 70-year-old machine.

Eventually, he incorporated his music background into the business, regaling Saturday night crowds with his piano playing.

Though Tavolario doesn't play as often anymore, he still enjoys it.

He has no favorite song.

“Whatever I'm playing at the time,” he said.

Although Tavolario's sister-in-law Connie Lamanna remains involved with the business as the manager of the West Wayne Street restaurant, his children have their own careers.

His daughter, Doralice Ricchiuti, is an attorney for a Youngstown, Ohio, firm. His son, Vincent, who lives in O'Hara Township, Allegheny County, sells promotional products to automobile dealerships.Tavolario said his daughter was a hostess for the restaurant when she was 13.“She was good, too,” he said.The restaurant's bar is adorned with chandeliers and handblown Venetian glass. Artwork imported from Italy hangs on the walls of the dining room. Family photographs also decorate the interior.In the 1970s, Tavolario decided to open a new restaurant, Natili North, further up North Main Street with a different menu from the original location.Between all three businesses, there are 102 employees. Many of them have worked for Tavolario for 10 to 30 years.“They've become family,” he said.One of the members of that family is cook Shirley Mariacher, 77, who makes the soups at Natili North.“She still loves it,” Tavolario said. “She's terrific.”He stressed the importance of having capable managers for each business.Along with Lamanna at the original restaurant, Bobbi McFeaters manages the pizza shop while Debbie Schroth oversees Natili North.Tavolario said Natili North customers always ask where Schroth is and when she'll be back on days she's not working.Operating three businesses takes its toll. Tavolario gets less sleep and doesn't take extended trips.“I can't go away to Florida for one or two months,” he said.But Tavolario still finds the restaurant business rewarding. He appreciates it when customers tell him they enjoyed their food and the atmosphere.“I want people to say, “That was a nice evening,'” Tavolario said.He said it's difficult to compete against chain restaurants.“Your best asset is the personal service,” Tavolario said.He stressed to have longevity in business, an owner can't pocket all the profit.“You have to reinvest money in the business first,” Tavolario said. “Employees are part of that. What's left over is for me. You hope you have something at the end of the rainbow.”

<B>TAVOLARIO FILE</B><B>Name: </B>Vince Tavolario<B>Age</B>: 66<B>Residence</B>: Butler Township<B>Family</B>: Wife, Jean, and a son and daughter<B>Business</B>: Owner of Natili’s Restaurant, Natili North, Natili North Pizza Shoppe<B>Employees</B>: 102‘I want people to say, ‘That was a nice evening.’<B>BUSINESS INSIGHT</B>Vince Tavolario, who owns three restaurants, Natili’s Restaurant, Natili North, and Natili North Pizza Shoppe, offers these tips for succeeding in business:• Your first mission is to take care of the customer.• Take care of your employees.• Offer the best product you can.• Your best asset is personal service.• Reinvest money in the business first.