Mancino’s has been a staple of the Petoskey restaurant community for more than three decades, and that reputation continues today with new ownership.
Amber, Bill and Ciara Ramsby became owners of the West Mitchell Street restaurant best known for pizza and grinders in late February. Amber serves as the general manager and her husband, Bill, also the owner of Ramsby Drilling Inc. in Indian River, is a silent partner. But the real reason for the purchase was to help their daughter, Ciara, 19, in her quest to become an entrepreneur.
The idea came to Bill late last year when he saw the venerable restaurant was up for sale. Within a few minutes of seeing the listing, Bill suggested the idea of purchasing the restaurant to his family.
“I remember going there in the late 1990s for grinders and even though I only stopped there a few times I always loved it,” Bill said. “I come through Petoskey regularly for business. I thought it would be fun to get a grinder at our own restaurant someday.”
Bill and Amber live in Cheboygan while Ciara recently moved to Petoskey. The current plan is for Amber to work about five years to help Ciara and her partner, Blake, feel comfortable running the restaurant as sole owners. Amber drives the 45-70 minute commute five days a week to help oversee operations while Ciara makes all the bread and leads the kitchen. Amber also manages the finances at both Mancino’s and Ramsby Drilling.
“We wanted to support our daughter with a business that she can grow with,” said Amber. She and Bill have six daughters and three sons as part of a blended family. Some of their sons help out with the well drilling business.
“There wasn’t an obvious (family) business for Ciara, so we purchased this after meeting with her and (determining) this was the right move,” Amber said. “So far it is going really well.”
The Ramsbys participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce on May 28 and held a “new ownership” open house on May 29. They are looking forward to remaining busy Mondays through Saturdays during the summer tourist season.
Multiple franchisee-owned Mancino’s restaurants are scattered across Michigan. That’s why the menu will have few, if any, changes. Customers can choose from an array of grinders, pizza, pasta, breadsticks and “knots,” bone-in and boneless chicken wings, salads and more. There’s also a few desserts available for customers with a sweet tooth.
“It still has the type of menu you would expect a pizza and grinder place to have,” Bill said.
The Ramsbys are investing in interior renovations to spruce up the restaurant while adding various modern features. The family is also renting a number of arcade games, pinball machines and other games like air hockey to drive interest from families.
“We want to appeal to everyone,” Amber said. “It’s a family atmosphere.”
Delivery orders are handled through DoorDash and can be made online at mancinosofpetoskey.com or by calling 231-348-3700.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: New owners at Mancino’s in Petoskey looking forward to busy summer season
Reporting by M. Alan Scott, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By M. Alan Scott, The Petoskey News-Review | USA TODAY Network
