The Women Entrepreneurs of Tufillo
Tufillo may appear as an unassuming, quiet village, but walk around a bit and you will be pleasantly surprised. Step into many of the businesses here, and you will be greeted by owners, managers or partners that are women. These women are proponents of their visions for prosperous and fulfilling enterprises, that offer what this community needs and desires. Each of these businesses exude its individualized character in the products they offer, the setting of their venue, and especially the women who offer their product and services.
Showcased here are 5 women who have storefronts or businesses, which are open to the public. There are other women in the planning stage of new enterprises as well as other local farm products and online businesses. Tufillo has many treasures. With each of these ladies, I asked the following questions of which you may find their replies below in their stories:
- What inspired you to become a business owner?
- What do you offer your customers that makes your business special and a success?
- What challenges did you have starting your business? Did any of those challenges relate to you being a woman?
- Who are your target customers?
- What are your plans for the future of your business?
- What do you enjoy the most about your business?
[Please note that translations of the answers for these questions were from Italian to English and that could lead do some clumsy editing on my part. ]
Antonella Monaco – Panetteria Barisano
When John and I first arrived in Tufillo, as prospective home buyers, we walked through the entire town to get a ‘feel’ of the community. As we headed down the main road, our olfactory senses sprang into action and anyone that has passed a bakery knows what I’m talking about. Your mouth immediately starts to water. Before we even stepped into the shop, we could see many lovely loaves of breads and delicious looking sweets through the wide window. We of course, proceeded to meet Dino Barisano and Antonella Monaco and learned that this bakery was renowned for its special pizza!
“In 1971, the spouses Filomena and Luigi Barisano decided to return to Italy from Germany to their town of origin, namely Tufillo, from where they had left for work, so they took over the town’s bakery, where in addition to bread and sweets, they decided to make and sell a typical local pizza that was made by the housewives of the town on special occasions, the so-called “pizza a Figliot”, a pizza made of thin elongated sheets of bread with salt, extra virgin olive oil, sweet pepper and sausage in the shape of a savory strudel. In 2002, Luigi Barisano’s son, Dino, with his wife Antonella took over the family business and marketed this pizza, which is considered a typical product of Tufillo, in nearby towns and also outside the area upon order with a preservation process.” [discoveryabruzzomagazine/16 Aprile 2019] Pictured here are Dino & Antonella.
Though there is definitely collaboration between Dino and Antonella in what they bake, we see Dino as the hearty bread and pizza baker and Antonella as the delicious and pretty pastry creator. They work long and hard hours to supply our community and nearby towns and villages with their creations. We are very thankful for their continued loyalty to excellent products available in our small town.
Antonella shares her thoughts to my questions below.
“I was inspired by the possibility of taking over and continuing the family business, to having my own business and doing a job that I like. We offer bread, pizza and desserts produced with quality ingredients and traditional recipes, but also the availability of innovative and modern products. Variety and freshness of products. Some of the challenges are the return to this country (even if of origin); purchase of a new house; working with 2 children; and working closely with my husband. Our target customers are all people looking for healthy and tasty products. For the future, we look for structural renewal and increase in product variety with the possibility of export. I enjoy the possibility of doing a job that I like and the satisfaction of positive feedback from customers.”
Contact Information: 333.1592018 Antonella 339.3120329 Dino open every day 0800 – 1200 & 1800 -2000, closed Thursday afternoon and Sunday.
Anna Wolff – Angelo 36 Grocery Store
Long before we came to live in Tufillo, Anna had been a part of this community. We were introduced to Anna as the lovely German lady who speaks excellent Italian. This comes in handy when you’re the proprietor of a small-town shop! Once the renovation of her house was completed, Anna moved here full time and has been very busy ever since. We are so very thankful that she was ready to continue operating a grocery shop in Tufillo, once Clelia Petti (former owner) changed career paths.
Anna’s shop offers a multitude of items which most households need regularly. She has made great efforts to assist customers with their specific needs and present her merchandise in a pleasing and inviting manner. And being the devoted animal lover that she is, Anna always has a few resident cats welcoming you at the door of her shop.
Anna shares her thoughts to my questions below.
“I was looking for work in Tufillo, at least in this area, and when Clelia (previous manager) said she didn’t want the shop any longer, I was inspired to take the chance. It was not the plan in the beginning to become business owner; it just happened. 🙂 In my case, I offer a little food shop here in our town, where I sell items that everybody needs. I try to organize everything special that they ask me for. Those challenges related to me coming from abroad (Germany). All the needed documents, bank accounts, and all that bureaucracy was really difficult. The Tufillo people made my beginning very smooth, as they are really open hearted and friendly. My target customers are all those who are hungry. 🙂 For the future, I would love to go online with a little shop and sell our Tufillo olive oil. But also, here the bureaucracy is very difficult, and I just can pray that this dream will work. What I really love and enjoy is the contact with the people. This is the best part of my job.”
Contact Information: Angolo 36, Via Indipendenza 36, 66050 Tufillo. I am open 830-1230 and 1730-1930. Thursday afternoon and Sundays are closed.
Milva Barisano – Artisan Jewelry
On our first visit to Tufillo house hunting, we walked through the characteristic historic enter. We were excited to see that a lovely jewelry store was part of the community. We were to soon find out that it was much more than a jewelry store…a flourishing establishment of Milva’s creativity. We were immediately impressed by her range of artistry, exquisite displays and her graciousness. She is our first and last stop when we look for gifts for family and friends, no matter the occasion. And once we purchased our home, we found ourselves less than a minute walk from her shop! Siamo contenti..
“Milva Barisano is an artisan goldsmith whose passion was born at school and developed thanks to the encounter with important masters in jewelry creation. In her laboratory in Tufillo, a village in the Alto Vastese area, she transforms the ideas that arise from her creativity into fascinating jewels. Choice of materials, elegance and attention to detail are the distinctive features of her creations that win the hearts of those who wear them. ” Milva Barisano.it
Milva shares her thoughts to my questions below.
“Having won a first prize in the ‘Nicola da Guardiagrele’ competition, reserved for the region’s goldsmith craftsmen, pushed me to open my laboratory. I always try to offer my customers trendy and traditional Abruzzo artisan objects but made with my personal taste and with addition of a little creativity. I had to face several bureaucratic challenges for the opening and challenges for locating in a small municipality along with investment costs. My customer base is of different origins and from neighboring towns, different nationalities and both young and older women and men. My plans for the future are to always be able to create handcrafted objects that can satisfy the tastes of my customers and to always be at the forefront in the creation of new models. In my business, I like the fact that I never ‘throw away’ a handcrafted object but that I reinvent it and make it different. I never get bored and always create new objects.”
Contact information: email: milva@milvabarisano.it, Tel.340.0039951, Milva Barisano, Corso Italia, n. 37, 66050Tufillo CH
Claudia Barisano – Claudia’s Home Restuarant
I think of all the amenities that John and I lamented about when we first moved to Tufillo, was that there wasn’t a restaurant here in town any longer. Years back, there was a hotel and pizzeria, but it was closed by the time we arrived. But now, we are ecstatic to have Claudia’s Home Restuarant! And it’s only about a 30 second walk from our house.
The entire family worked very diligently to have the restaurant open by Easter 2024. Maurizio, Claudia’s husband, used his job skills to transform a section of their home into an inviting and cozy venue. The daughters, Valeria and Cleila, worked nonstop to help get the dining area ready as well as setting up the new kitchen.
Claudia shares her thoughts to my questions below.
“I was driven by the desire to deal with people and also I was born into a family of entrepreneurs (shop, bar, building materials). This inspired me to open my home restaurant. I offer traditional and genuine cuisine. I have to face the bureaucratic challenges for all small business owners. My target customers are foreign and Italian people who want to try Abruzzo cuisine. In the future, I would like to organize themed evening and to offer cooking classes. My greatest enjoyment is my contact with the public.”
Largo del Ponte, Tufillo. We are open by reservation only. Call or WhatsApp for information and to make reservations – 3929113539, 3272368577
Marialaura Ottaviano – Bar Mariquita
In almost every village and town throughout rural Abruzzo you will find a bar, the center of activity. What makes ours so special, first and foremost, is Marialaura. Before we actually purchased our house, she was a major contributor in preparing the paperwork that facilitate the contract between us and Giacamo, the contractor/owner/brother. Whether she is working in the bar, assisting with town events or just walking around Tufillo, she is always helpful and kind.
In the summer months, when the umbrellas open up and flowers are blooming in planters, the piazza around the bar is the gathering place for locals and vacationers. Events, whether during the day or evening, always revolve around Bar Mariquita. And year round, even in the coldest months, there are always locals playing cards. Tufillo would be lost without Marialaura, her wonderful employees and the bar!
Marialaura shares her thoughts to my questions below.
“I was inspired, certainly, by the desire to stay in my town and to create an opportunity that would allow me to support myself financially. I offer to the people of this town the nerve center, a place for meetings, chats and new acquaintances. My biggest challenges were economic and certainly the bureaucratic obligations. Also, in general, finding all the resources; material and otherwise. My targeted customers are a mix of children, teenagers, mothers, fathers, grandparents; those local and passing through. For the future, I wish to maintain my professionalism, my relationship with customers, while trying to improve the level of technical equipment, and the environment inside and outside the venue. What I enjoy the most is the liveliness of my days, the absence of monotony and being in the company and the affection of the most loyal customers.”
Bar Mariquita, Piazza Fuori Porta, 6, 66050 Tufillo (ch), Cell. 3334852860, Facebook
Open every day: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 7.00 – 13.00 / 14.30 – 22.00, Friday, Saturday 7.00 – 13.00 / 14.30 – 02.00 Sunday 7.00 – 13.00 / 14.30 – 24.00
Tufillo is enriched by these hard-working and talented women. Their commitment to our community is greatly valued, as we understand the many hours that they devote not only to their businesses but to their families as well. In a country that has seen much migration from the smaller towns to career opportunities in the larger cities, we are very thankful that there now is a rejuvenation of the smaller towns and villages. We hope when you visit our lovely town, you have time to stop in these lively and important businesses and meet these wonderful women.
Navigating Life in Abruzzo 