Employee of the month? Tony Aiuto might just be the employee of the past half-century
When Tony Aiuto reported for his first day as a busboy at Phil's restaurant, a different Trudeau was Prime Minister, Paul Henderson was about to become hockey royalty, Mark Spitz won seven gold medals at the Summer Olympics and Atari introduced a new game known as Pong.
Tuesday, Tony said so long to Phil's, after completing his final shift on the job.
Forty nine years at one company is almost unheard of in today’s world but that's the milestone Aiuto hit before calling it a career Tuesday.
“When I started it was 17 and there were not that many jobs for young people," said Aiuto “I was making $1.35 and hour as a busboy. It was a great opportunity.”
Like a lot of university students, Aiuto worked the restaurant job to pay for university, where he studied business and marketing. Unlike most of his classmates, he never left the restaurant.
“I had some great little mentors," he said. "My first manager Frank was a nice, nice man. And this one server - Anita - a phenomenal lady. She later became my server, she worked for me afterwards when I began managing the restaurant.”
Tony Aiuto, Phils Restaurant
Over the years Aiuto has seen hundreds of young staffers through the doors. He says for many, as it was for him, the restaurant business is a stepping stone for personal development.
“It’s gratifying to see someone grow and to become adults," he said. "That's what longevity does: when you're in the same place for a long time, you get to take pride when they walk away and they've they become a doctor or lawyer.”
“I've got lots of stories like that from great families that have become doctors, lawyers, teachers, accountants, physiotherapists, and they come back and they say, ‘Thanks, Tony for giving me a great place to work in," he said. "A place that was safe a place that hey, you were flexible."
THE REGULARS
Tuesday a steady stream of regular customers came through the door to say goodbye to a man who became a fixture at the Elbow Drive restaurant.
“And is it going to be the same? I don't think it will," said Giulio Diano who also worked at the restaurant under Aiuto.
"It won't be for me for sure, because it's that old familiar face just to come in and say hello.”
“When I first started, he was working in the back," Diano said. "He was part of the kitchen staff. And all the years I worked with him he was again, he was working in the back. So what we saw was he knows every aspect of the business that that he worked through.”
Aiuto admits he will be back at the restaurant, but now he’ll be a customer, likely ordering his favourite, the beef dip.
His wife said she’s OK with that, just as long as he stays at the table with her now that he’s retired.
Tony Aiuto with a customer at Phil's Restaurant
“Before I’d be sitting here all by myself,” said Aiuto’s wife Adriana, “because Tony would be in the back, washing dishes if they needed help.”
The couple say they intend to spend more time with their grandchildren, and are hoping to travel as soon as that’s possible again.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.
King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
Flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.