Granteeds, a beloved local eatery in the surrounding Dunmore area, has been serving delicious food since the 1970s. Fast forward to 2024, I was able to sit down with Gina & Giuseppe Cicco, the current owners of Granteeds, who were able to tell me a little bit more about the expansive history of the restaurant. Known for its mouth-watering Italian Hoagies, Chicken Parm Hoagies, and New York-style pizzas, this family-run establishment has been a cornerstone of the community.
Granteeds was originally founded in the 1970s and was acquired by Gino Cicco, Gina and Giuseppe’s father, in the 1980s as the third owner. The original location faced an unexpected challenge when the lease was not renewed due to the landlord’s desire for his son to start a pizzeria there. Undeterred by this setback, Gino made the decision to relocate the business a block and a half down the road to 817 Mulberry St, Scranton, PA 18510 in the 1990s, where it thrives today. In 2018 Gina & Giuseppe took over the business and have been running it ever since.
Granteeds is deeply involved in community activities, regularly donating to charity events organized by the universities of our local area. From sponsoring local sports teams to participating in neighborhood fairs, Granteeds is committed to giving back to the community that has supported it for decades.
I asked Giuseppe what some highlights of taking over the family business are, to which he shares,
“Running a family business has taught us the importance of responsibility, customer service, and maintaining healthy relationships with employees and vendors. Our advice to future business owners is to stay consistent and reliable, ensuring customers know what to expect every day.”
The community has loved and supported Granteeds for many years, and the Cicco family plans to continue being a staple.
“Looking ahead, we hope to expand our reach within the community and continue to be a trusted place for delicious meals. We aim to uphold the legacy of quality and service that our family has built over the years.” says Giuseppe.
You can visit them on Facebook for the latest updates and menu! Granteeds is open from 11 AM to 11 PM, Monday through Saturday, and they offer delivery to East Scranton, South Scranton, Green Ridge, Dunmore, and Downtown, as well as pickup and dine-in options. We invite you to stop in to experience a piece of history and indulge in the flavors that have stood the test of time.
When we think about Dunmore, we think about community, and Century 21 Jack Rudy Real Estate can attest to that. I was honored to have been able to sit down with Jackie Ruddy, the owner and broker of Century 21 Jack Rudy R.E.. Jackie walked me through the history of the business, which encapsulates exactly what community means here in Dunmore, PA.
Jackie’s father, Jack Ruddy, is where the story begins. Mr. Ruddy attended St. Paul’s High School in our Greenridge area. After graduating, he attended The University of Scranton and served some time overseas. It was after coming back from overseas, in the 1970s, that Mr. Ruddy started selling insurance. When Jackie was born, he acquired his real estate license and started his own business right next door to their family home at that time. “Jack Rudy Real Estate” was started. Shortly after, he looked to grow his business and decided to franchise with Century 21.
“My dad used to say, if he didn’t insure your home or your car, he probably sold you a house,” Jackie stated, as she reminds us of just how much her father served the local area. “Dunmore has always been a community that is well sought after. When a house listed in Dunmore, it sold, and a lot of times it would be by word of mouth, so he was challenged in that respect. Even today there are very few homes for sale in Dunmore.” Mr. Ruddy was able to integrate his business within the Dunmore community by simply being who he was. Jackie shared that he was a very humorous and outgoing person with high ethical standards, all qualities that helped his business thrive.
Jackie Ruddy followed in her father’s footsteps and graduated from The University of Scranton, becoming a licensed realtor in 1993. In 1998, she became an associate broker and settled in as owner and principal broker at Century 21 Jack Rudy R.E. in 2009.
In her 31-year career, Jackie Ruddy has truly achieved great things not only for herself but also for her business and her community. Jackie stated, “If I’m going to do something, I’m going to be the best that I can be.” From being named Realtor of the Year in 2006 by the Greater Scranton Board of Realtors to being our very own Dunmorean of the Month back in August of 2019, Jackie dedicates herself to her business. “I live, breathe, eat… real estate, so I really pour myself into every part that I could be involved with,” she exclaimed.
Jackie has a team of 28 real estate agents to whom she offers management as well as support and guidance. She also hosts a talk show called “The Real Estate Round Table,” which you can tune in to on Saturdays at 11 a.m. or Sundays at 11:30 a.m. on 94.3 The Talker. Episodes of this show can also be found on any podcast platforms for your convenience, all while also finding new ways to grow and develop the business and making sure Century 21 Jack Rudy R.E. is giving back to the community that has given so much to them.
“That comes from my dad, being out and about in the community.”
You can find Jackie supporting organizations such as The Women’s Resource Center, Great Chefs, The Ronald McDonald House, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Scranton Shakespeare Festival, Bucktown Blood Drive, etc. The list could go on forever; Jackie makes it a point to do as much for the community as she could. I was shocked when Jackie shared with me just how many Dunmore events they are involved with. These events include Dunmore Trunk or Treat events, Dunmore sports, and High School events, and so many more.
Jackie Ruddy
Century 21 Jack Ruddy R.E. spearheaded the annual Dunmore Community Charity Bowling event, an event that brings the area together in such a beautiful way where everyone wins. Jackie reminds us of how directly she is involved: “It’s me going out, knocking on doors, getting people to either sponsor or donate and/or make a bowling team.” In this bowling event, there are four top winners, each winning a different monetary amount that is to be donated to a charity of their choosing.
Some members of the Dunmore Community that have participated include Nibbles & Bits, Statefarm, Panderellas, and many more. Panderellas was last year’s winner, and they donated to NE Suicide Prevention Center. Jackie adds another layer to this event, “If a monetary donation is above a certain amount, I put them up on my digital billboard so at the Dunmore Corners they get free advertising,” she states, “it’s a great night out, we provide food, we’re there to have fun and root on the teams”!
As fun and exciting as community engagement is, Jackie reminds us that real estate is far from all fun and games.
“In sales, there are a lot of disappointments and things that don’t work out, so there’s a lot of time spent on something that might never come into fruition, but we still give it our all. It’s something that is not for everybody, but it is 100% commission. We don’t get a salary, we don’t get an hourly wage, we don’t get paid if we don’t go to closing.”
She is aware that the housing market is undergoing a challenging time and shares some positivity regarding it.
“We’ll figure it out; everything is going to work out. Right now, we don’t have a lot of answers, but I am 100% convinced that we will be okay. We are in a transformation, and I think we are going to come out on the other side stronger and better. Every once in a while, this happens, not just to the real estate business. As we look to the future, we’re very hopeful.”
Jackie also shared some words of comfort for the new generation entering the housing market. “Right now, there may not be any steals in the market, but I wouldn’t be nervous about the future of the market. Homeownership is part of the American dream, and I think it will be attainable for anyone who has the discipline to do the things they need to do in order to buy a house.” She reminds us of just how important it is to take care of the menial tasks such as paying bills on time and watching our credit scores. “It’s not unattainable; it will happen. It might not be today, but you’ll get there.”
Jackie Ruddy is an outstanding businesswoman who represents just what it means to be a Dunmorean. A strong woman needs a strong support system, and that is exactly what she has. Her husband, Pat, and son, Patty, are her greatest supporters. Her son is the joy of her life and what keeps her going. Patty also happens to be a previous Dunmorean of the Month! As we finished our interview, I asked Jackie to share a bit of wisdom that she has acquired throughout her endeavors; she states:
“I will give the advice my dad would say to me. Don’t give up. If you have a dream and you want to achieve it, there are going to be bumps in the road, and you have a choice: do they break you? Or do they make you? When you’re met with the challenges and the struggles and the difficulties that come about in anything that you choose to do in life, just get in touch with your ‘why’; why do you want to do it? And that will give you the purpose and drive to succeed.”
Century 21 Jack Ruddy R.E. has become such a staple in the Dunmore Community, and they hope to continue to be, not only for all your real estate needs but as your neighbors as well. Located at 111 W. Drinker St., Dunmore, PA, they are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Some upcoming events you can expect Jackie Ruddy to be supporting include Jog for Judge in the summer, Dunmore National Night Out, and don’t forget to inquire about the annual Dunmore Bowling Charity event coming up in September, where you will find plenty of your favorite Dunmore local businesses participating. “We support each other,” Jackie states, “and that is what Dunmore is all about,” I concluded.
“Dad, I want to open a pizzeria,” said 14-year-old Izzy just about a year ago. With those seven words, Izzy’s Pizza came to be.
Welcome back to The Bucktown Business Beat! This month, I had the opportunity to sit down with Izzy and Jim Warren. The Warren family came together in such a beautiful way to show Izzy that his dreams could become a reality when opening up their new Make Your Own Pizzeria located in the Greenridge Plaza.
When I asked Izzy and Jim, “What was the inspiration behind starting the business?” they walked me through a beautiful story that filled me with much motivation. The idea of Izzy’s Pizza started floating around before a trip to Utah for a conference to see Kris Krohn, a breakthrough mentor, real estate guru, and much more.
Izzy went along as he follows in his father’s entrepreneurial footsteps. “I wanted to start making money & start something new,” Izzy tells us. At the conference, they just so happened to bump into a couple who were holding cups that said “Slurp” on them. They inquired about the cups and found out that there was a soda bar. Naturally, their next step was to check it out. The soda bar had various syrups for customers to mix in any way that they would like. Izzy loved this idea and took note of it, as he would continue to do as their trip progressed, whenever setting his eyes on even the smallest details that he would implement into the pizzeria.
“What was the journey of opening the business like?” I asked. After getting back from the trip, they immediately started on Izzy’s plan. “We didn’t just think about it, we took it seriously and started moving on it!” Jim exclaims.
Jim found pizza-making equipment for sale, and being the young businessman that Izzy is, he was ready to make the purchase with his own savings. The Warren family got right to work and formed Izzy’s Pizza from the ground up! The whole family stepped in to get Izzy’s Pizza ready to open, from ripping up floors to painting gorgeous (& yummy) murals. A big significant moment in their journey was when Izzy’s Pizza was approved for a Loan to Grant for small business by the City of Scranton.
Having just opened, Izzy’s Pizza hopes to become a staple in the community. Jim expressed that he wants Izzy’s Pizza to be a place you can come to. not just for the food, but for the atmosphere, and to relax, read a book, surf the web, or play some board games with a nice cold crisp soda.
What are some future plans for Izzy’s Pizza? The Warren family has many plans for Izzy’s Pizza! They’re looking forward to hosting events like birthday parties and possibly traveling to birthday parties with an Izzy’s Pizza food truck. The Warren family also made Izzy’s Pizza as franchisable as possible, hoping to open various locations. “I think it would be fun to make this work and let it be a fun experience and share it with everyone,” Jim states.
Opening Izzy’s Pizza was overall a great experience for the Warren family with a taste of nostalgia. Jim tells us, “When the kids were younger, every Friday I used to make up some fresh dough and have the kids roll out their own dough and put their own toppings on them. Then we used that concept here, to let people get that experience.”
“What are some lessons you learned along the way?” I asked. Izzy tells us, “We messed up a lot, so we had a lot of lessons, but it was a fun journey.” He also shares, “Expect it to take much longer than you think.” Jim explains that with all the experience they now have, the next Izzy’s Pizza will be that much easier to open!
Jim and Izzy both shared great pieces of advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in the community. “If you have a dream and you want to do something, do it, don’t hold back, don’t be scared, and if you are scared, walk through the fear. Be joyful, be happy, and keep motivated. As long as you keep motivated, you will get there,” expresses Jim.
Izzy’s Pizza doors are open from Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. You can order online or walk right in. Choose your own toppings and have fun at the soda bar, and don’t forget to document the fun by taking some great pictures in front of their murals! Izzy’s Pizza hopes to see you all soon and hopes to provide some fresh new fun for the whole family.
