Philadelphia would not be Philly without its cheesesteaks. It’s the staple of every Philadelphian’s diet, and no matter if you like yours ‘wit’ or ‘wit out’, you’re guaranteed to have at least one go-to spot to get your grub on! At the cornerstone of our cheesesteak empire is Geno Vento, the owner of Philly’s beloved Geno’s Steaks.
We had a chance to get to know Geno, the second generation Vento to own Geno’s Steaks. Geno inherited the business after his father, Joey Vento, who founded the establishment in 1966, and raised the popularity of the cheesesteak to its current glory.
Philly PR Girl: Tell us a little about yourself! Have you lived in Philly your whole life? What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
Geno Vento: I was born in Philadelphia and raised in New Jersey. I moved out on my own when I was in my 30’s. My parents wanted me to stay with them until I was 90. I was a mama’s boy. Some of my hobbies are traveling, cooking, hanging with friends, working out, theater, shows, photography, and walking around the city.
Philly PR Girl: What were your experiences growing up around the business? What various job titles and responsibilities did you have before becoming the owner of Geno’s?
Geno Vento: Growing up in my father’s shoes were big shoes to fill. He was hard to work for because his thinking was old school. We butted heads at times, but that’s what fathers and sons do. I had a few titles at Geno’s, but when I was at work, I was just another worker, not his son. I did not get special treatment. I feel that sometimes I had it even worse than the other workers. Taking over the empire is a big responsibility for me and I am learning new things all of the time. Some people working here at Geno’s have been here 20, 30, even 40 years. My main guy, Jimmy Reds, has been here over 40 years and he is my right-hand man. He loves running Geno’s and it is in his blood.
Philly PR Girl: We were so sorry to hear of Joey’s passing in 2011. He was and remains a mainstay figure in Philadelphia’s history. How do you, family, and friends remember the man behind the iconic institution?
Geno Vento: Thank you for the remark, and it was a loss. We miss him every day. It was tough. He was full of life. He was outspoken sometimes, but deep down he was a soft person. At work I remember him saying it was a dictatorship and not a democracy. He ran a tight ship but had a very successful business.
Philly PR Girl: Was it always the plan for you to take over your father’s business one day?
Geno Vento: Yes and no. I was not really into it until my father’s passing. I got to put my stamp on it, make it my own, and took it to the next level. Growing up, I did not care for it. It was a lot of work and long hours. But I realized you need that to succeed in life and I am glad my father was hard on me because it made me the person I am.
Philly PR Girl: What does your schedule look like on a typical day?
Geno Vento: It is crazy. I have meetings most days and some interviews. I get to go out on the town with my publicist to movie premieres and events around the city. Antoine keeps me on time and helps promotes my brand.
Philly PR Girl: How do you order your cheesesteak?
Geno Vento: My go-to is whiz but I do sway to a Milano, which is provolone with grilled tomatoes, oregano, and onions.
Philly PR Girl: We hear you have some new locations opening up. What can you tell us about them and the future of Geno’s brand?
Geno Vento: We opened in XFINITY Live! in October, which was our first, and now we are talking with the Philadelphia Airport and SugarHouse Casino. We just got word that there is even interest in Las Vegas, so you never know where you will see a Geno’s popping up. One thing for sure is that I have to be totally on board and also like the people that I am working with. It will be a long relationship so we have to have good communication. To me, my name is worth more than a dollar sign.
If you aren’t already, be surely to get your daily fix of Geno’s through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! How do you order your cheesesteak? Let us know in the comments!
