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Business & Tech

La Bottega Italian Gourmet of Syosset

Cousins Lou Neglia and Tony St. George serve up homemade soups, salads and panini made fresh to order.

Lou Neglia always knew he wanted to operate his own business. Tony St. George aspired to become a professional baseball player. The cousins recently partnered to create their own 'field of dreams' at of Syosset.

Growing up in a big Italian family from Brooklyn,  Neglia and St. George both developed an appreciation for the art of cooking early on in their lives.

"I always loved food, being around it...being in the kitchen," Neglia said. "Both of us did. It was all around us." So, it is a natural choice for the cousins to go into the food industry.

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But before joining forces in the kitchen, each first pursued a career in the worlds of business and finance.

"We came from different fields," Neglia explained. "I was in the mortgage business – I had a branch for about seven years... and I always saw myself running my own business."

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For his part, St. George dreamed of a career in the Major Leagues.

"I played baseball in college I got a full scholarship. So, that was my hope. To be a professional baseball player," he said, adding with a grin, "... like a million other kids."

But St. George says he was also intrigued with the idea of owning a business, and to that end studied business management in college. After college, he too worked in the mortgage field for some time until the industry collapsed.

He subsequently landed a job as a sales representative for a payroll company, but found it wasn't for him.

"I don't know," he shrugged. "I just didn't see myself doing that for the rest of my life."

Meanwhile, Neglia was still struggling in the ailing mortgage industry. So, the two decided it was time to pursue a business venture. Impressed with the original La Bottega in Garden City, they checked into franchise opportunities and ultimately decided to move ahead on it.

"We liked the concept – small, quaint, really good food," Neglia said. "And although it's a franchise, it's not really regimented. You have freedom to put your own spin on things."

La Bottega's signature menu items are homemade soups, salads and panini prepared fresh to order.

"We're open seven days a week and we shop seven days a week. Everything's fresh," Neglia said proudly. "What you're eating, we bought that morning. And we have gluten free items."

The partners have been pleasantly surprised at how well business has gone, so much so that they're pushing up an expansion originally intended for late 2011.

"We've been open around three months and it's been really good so far, better than we expected," Neglia said.

Catering has already become a strong part of the business, with baskets of panini for office parties and individual customers proving to be a popular choice. They also offer delivery service.

Neglia is looking forward to the coming year. "The expansion will give us space to have parties," he said. "That will be exciting for us." They are also awaiting approval of a wine and beer license that he expects will bring an added dimension and new clientele.

By all indications, St. George has no regrets about a baseball career that wasn't to have been.

"The neighborhood has welcomed us," he concluded, smiling broadly. "We're getting great word of mouth. And I love coming to work!"

Visit La Bottega of Syosset at 11 Berry Hill Road or call them  at 516-364-1980.

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