Arlington brothers bring the meatball to new levels

Brothers Anthony and Michael Ferrazzuolo of Arlington Heights helped in their family's restaurant, called Oliveti's in Des Plaines, for a long time, both to support their parents and because they enjoyed the business.

So when the St. Viator grads felt like they wanted to take a portion of the business to another level, they decided that meatballs were the answer.

They started a new concept called The Original Meatball Vault and opened food stations at First Midwest Bank Amphitheater in South Suburban Tinley Park and at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin in May. A third location has its grand opening today at the French Market in downtown Chicago.

Instead of starting with a full restaurant or a stand on a busy street or mall, they intentionally targeted concert halls, amphitheaters and other such public venues. After all, where else can you capture thousands of people at once who can easily stop by and buy your food?

"It was something different and we're always looking outside the box," said Anthony Ferrazzuolo, 23, who handles operations and logistics. "We thought it was easier in such venues where customers can get to know us. It was a new concept and we needed to make a splash."

The brothers are now aiming for other sports and entertainment venues nationwide. And it all started with a meatball recipe from their grandmother.

After Oliveti's closed in 2012 after 20 years, their parents Tony and Gina Ferrazzuolo continued to manufacture food products for grocers, including Whole Foods, Ultra Foods, Shop N Save and others. The brothers wanted to feature their meatballs, so that became the centerpiece of their new business. The meatballs are pre-made with beef, chicken, pork or vegetables, and then shipped to the First Midwest and Alpine Valley locations.

But at the French Market, the meatballs are made fresh in front of customers so they can watch the process, they said.

They also have plans to add desserts made by their twin sisters, Marisa and Sara Ferrazzuolo.

So far, they sell about 1,500 meatballs with various sauces each week, said Michael, 21, who handles the finances.

"We're keeping it all organic and natural, even the container is made of sugar cane and can be recycled," Michael said.

And no, you cannot eat the container.

More honors for Prunskis

John V. Prunskis, medical director of Illinois Pain Institute in Elgin, will speak at the Congress of the Brazilian Society of Interventional Pain Physicians in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The president and chairman of the Congress, Fabrício Dias Assis, contacted Prunskis to participate as one of the speakers. He also has recently been honored as Knight of the Order of Merit by the Lithuanian government. Prunskis was appointed by U.S. State Department and government of Lithuania as honorary consul of Lithuania. In 2013, Prunskis was elected chairman of Lithuania's parliament/World Lithuanian Community Commission.

Colorful award

Adam Swanlund, chief operating officer of Bii Hair Salon in West Dundee, said he posted a video on YouTube from a shoot they did at the salon. It features the work of James Gartner's winning entry for the Pravana Show Us Your Vivids, Educators Only contest. "The video takes you through the inspiration and teamwork it takes to make the dream work," he said.

FastTracks

Attorney Vito Manicioto, who is with the personal injury law firm Hupy and Abraham in Gurnee, was named as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Illinois by the National Top Trial Lawyers Association. ... Pradeep Shukla, a broker/owner of Re/Max Renaissance in Des Plaines, is the new president of Downers Grove-based The Mainstreet Organization of Realtors' board of directors. ... Sue Carey, co-owner and vice president, of Relocation and Corporate Services with Century 21 Kreuser & Seiler Ltd. in Libertyville, has been appointed to serve as a member of the board of directors for Worldwide ERC, the professional association for workforce mobility.

Branch Manager Rhiannon Schmidt, of Waterstone Mortgage Corp., said the company has moved from Gurnee to 229 Center St., Grayslake. ... Virgil Bonifazi, director of operations for Mount Prospect's Ginder Factory, a custom novelty merchandise company, has launched its custom poster and canvas company with Miramax Studios.

Family medicine physician Asunta Moduthagam has joined the Advocate Medical Group and will see patients at the Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Health and Fitness Center in Barrington. ... Investor and entrepreneur Godard Abel has expanded his new offices for both G2 Crowd, a software review site, and SteelBrick, a sales quote app, in Highland Park.

Rick Kerman, CEO of Steiner Electric in Elk Grove Village, said his company received the Affiliated Distributors' Giving Back Award, during the Affiliated Distributors' national meeting in Chicago. The Giving Back Award was created in 2010 to honor the many distributor and supplier community service, charitable and human interest projects throughout the industry.

•There's more to business than just the bottom line. We want to tell you about the people that make business work. Send news about people in business to akukec@dailyherald.com. Follow Anna Marie Kukec on LinkedIn and Facebook and as AMKukec on Twitter.