Day 12

Name: Mike

Profession: Manager, Boston House of Pizza

Location: Boston House of Pizza, back room

Question: What led you to this point?

Answer: A part-time job in high school

365 Debuts (3D): What led you to this point?

Mike (M): In life, or in general?

3D: It’s up to you. However you want to answer the question.

M: That’s weird. I dunno. I never thought about it. What led me here. Here at work? Bad business choices in the past. I got the opportunity to go away with my cousin, and we did. That was it.

3D: What bad business happened?

M: No bad business on my part. But not—what’s the word I’m looking for? When I bought the first business, I didn’t go into detail with numbers, so the owner that sold me the business lied on what the store was makin’. I went in with the mindset that the store makes so much a week, or so much a month, when it wasn’t even close. So the investment just went downhill from there.

3D: What business was it?

M: I had another pizza/sub shop. And I got involved in the pizza business so many years ago.

3D: Why? Do you just like pizza?

M: No. You know why? Because one of friends’ parents owned a shop, so during high school or whatever you need a part-time job; I started working there. Easy job. You know, between school you had decent hours. Good pay, even when you went for college, and when you went back for the summer, you had just stuck with it. That’s it. That was fun. The money was good.

3D: And how did you get a job here? How did you go from the failed pizza/sub shop to BHOP?

M: Well, you still look. There’s a lot of people out there who take a hit, and they give up. You can’t give up. Like, I’m one of those people that you just pick yourself back up, get back out there and do it again.

3D: Okay. When did you start here?

M: October first.

3D: Do you speak Greek?

M: I do speak Greek.

3D: And Jo [the owner] speaks Greek? Did you guys know each other before you got a job here?

M: Yeah. Well, she’s married to my cousin. So we’re cousins through marriage or whatever. So it just ended up being this way.

3D: Do you ever regret your career decision? Do you ever wish you weren’t doing pizza?

M: You know, sometimes. Sometimes I do. ‘Cause I was going to school to be a corporate lawyer. So, when you look back it’s like, ‘Hmm…. Maybe I could have been retired by now.’ You know, no, because I’m my own boss, which is a good thing, you know.

3D: And how’s life going, besides at the pizza shop?

M: My personal life?

3D: Yeah.

M: I’m single. I think maybe I’m—what do you call them bachelors?—like, the most eligible bachelor. I mean, whatever. It’s nothing too crazy, being a bachelor. I mean, if you asked me these questions, like, years ago, I went clubbin’. Just going out and having a good time. I still go out and have a good time. But now it’s…

3D: With older people?

M: Yeah. With older people. Just pull out a walker…. [Smiles]

3D: Do you have any plans for the future?

M: To retire early.

3D: Are you saving up for that?

M: Definitely saving up for that. Before, I used to travel a lot. I used to go to just everywhere. And I stopped because of businesses and stuff, so I want to start going and travelling again. Like, different parts of the country and different parts of the world. My main thing is Bali. I don’t know why, but I’ve had it in my head for the longest time, so I want to go to Bali.

3D: Okay. So you speak Greek. Are you from Greece?

M: No. My parents are. I’m a first generation.

3D: Do you go there?

M: Oh, yeah. I’ve been there plenty of times. It’s fun. It’s nice. It’s a nice country. Just like anything else, if you go on vacation, it’s totally different than living there. You know, you’re having fun, you’re having a good time, but I guess if you live there, you’re going to have whatever the country provides. You’re going to have many with the government, maybe with work, maybe whatever…. But it’s just anywhere you go, if you’re on vacation, it’s fun.

3D: Would you ever think about retiring there?

M: No.

3D: Why not?

M: Because I love this country. I’d go on vacation, don’t get me wrong, yeah. But no. I’m Americanized. So, I know one way. Which, I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but this is the life I know. I know, if I’m going to go get something, I know where to go, I know what to do. I mean, there, I would just have to start at the beginning. I mean, I can, I have family out there, but….

--

Blogger's note: Mike ended the interview with a phone call, but seemed exceptionally happy with the meeting. After the interruption, he returned to the front desk shouting, "Guess who was just interviewed?! Me! I was just interviewed!"