First Posted: 1/5/2015
LIMA — John and Jackie Caprella are taking on a new challenge.
The two own Caprella Sportswear and at the beginning of December, they branched into food service and bought W.G. Grinders.
W.G. Grinders is a sub shop at 2100 Harding Highway in the East Gate Shopping Center. And, John Caprella said, “believe it or not,” it’s been there for 19 years.
“It’s always been a neat thing to have,” he said. “It’s got one of the best Italian deli-style sandwiches in town. It’s a really good product.”
The Caprellas redecorated the restaurant, repainted and added three flat-screen televisions.
“We upgraded everything and kind of rebranded the look,” he said.
The TVs will show sports and the news, and Caprella said being a part of the community and donating to local sports teams is important to him.
He plans to host school nights where the restaurant will donate money to the sports programs.
“It’s geared toward a friends and family atmosphere,” he said.
Caprella also wants to “get the word out more” about the business and raise more awareness about what it does and what it can do.
“People thought they were no longer in business,” he said.
As the owner, Caprella will have the company focus more on corporate catering and delivery. The company will deliver in a 30- to 40-mile radius, and even delivered to Van Wert recently.
The restaurant employs 13 people who have stayed on through the ownership change.
“It’s a good product and a good sandwich,” he said. “I think people had forgotten about it.”
