New start for Don Vito’s
30th September, 2015
LAWYERS at Ward Hadaway have helped a restaurateur open his first venture.
Commercial lawyers at the Newcastle office of Ward Hadaway provided legal advice to Andreas Spahiu to take over one of the city’s most established Italian restaurants.
Andreas, who has spent a number of years working in restaurants and bars in Newcastle, is now the owner and operator of Don Vito’s on the city’s Pilgrim Street.
Opening up – (from left) Matt Cormack of Ward Hadaway with Andreas Spahiu at the reopened Don Vito’s in Newcastle.
He was assisted in securing the lease and operation by Matt Cormack, Associate in the Commercial team at law firm Ward Hadaway.
Don Vito’s has now opened its doors following a refurbishment and will be serving diners at lunchtimes and evenings seven days a week.
Andreas is currently working with a team of six at the restaurant, is in the process of recruiting a further two members of staff and aims to have a ten-strong workforce by the end of 2015.
Andreas said: “I have worked in kitchens and restaurants for a number of years but this is the first time I have opened up one on my own.
“Don Vito’s has got a very long history trading as an Italian restaurant in Newcastle – it first opened its doors 39 years ago – and is well known in the city.
“We will be cooking 100% Italian recipes using only fresh ingredients – none pre-cooked or pre-prepared – and every wine we sell, all the pasta and all the cooked meats come direct from Italy. All our other supplies, such as fresh fish, meat and vegetables come from local suppliers, and will help to grow the local supply chain.”
The restaurateur paid tribute to Matt Cormack and the team at Ward Hadaway for their work in helping to make his ambition of running his own restaurant a reality.
Andreas said: “Matt and his colleagues were there for us right from the beginning advising us not only on all the legal aspects of getting the restaurant up and running, but also commercially with their understanding of key business issues for us as a new business, and with their expertise from previous transactions.
“We are very grateful for that advice, which has helped us to secure the right start to our business venture.
“Even now, after we have bought the place, Matt is still on hand to give advice and he and the Ward Hadaway team have been a fantastic help for us, and seem really excited by our plans for the restaurant.”
Matt Cormack said: “It is terrific to have been given the opportunity to assist Andreas in starting up the restaurant.
“Getting the right legal foundations is vital to the success of any business. Andreas recognises and appreciates that so it has been great to be able to help him get the right start for Don Vito’s.
“Andreas showed a real appetite and desire to take on the restaurant, and I’m sure that coupled with his passion for food and knowledge of the restaurant sector, his customers will not be left hungry.”
Ward Hadaway plays a major part in helping start-up and early stage businesses to get off the ground, as well as working with some of the region’s largest businesses.
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