CHEF’S NEW “ON THE GO” DINING EXPERIENCE OPENS IN AMHERST
CHEF’S “ON THE GO” TO FRANCHISE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
AMHERST, NY ( ilovechefsonthego.com) Brother and sister owners Mary Beth and Lou Billittier, Jr. cut the first strand of spaghetti – complete with music, pyrotechnics, and special guests – to officially open Chef’s “On The Go” in Williamsville Place, 5483 Sheridan Drive (at International Drive) at 11am Thursday October 17, 2019 on National Pasta Day!
The new location compliments the original downtown destination at 291 Seneca Street as “Home of the World Famous Spaghetti Parm.”
Co-owner Louis J. Billittier Jr. commented, “After many months of planning and construction, my sister and I welcome everyone to visit us. The Chef’s “On The Go” experience allows customers to come in, phone in or log in their order from a menu that features some of Chef’s favorites. You can enjoy your meal inside where we will have 50 seats, or take it out. If customers call ahead, go online, or use our app to order, they can drive in and get their food from our convenient Pick Up Window. People want their food served fast, but with the same quality they have come to expect with our special recipes and dishes, fresh baked bread, sauce, and Spaghetti Parm.”
The Chef’s “On The Go” location offers ample free parking, with easy access to the Pick Up Window. The hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 11am until 9pm, closed on Sunday following the Billittier tradition of allowing employees time to spend with their families.
As part of the Opening Day festivities, the first 97 people in line received a complimentary Spaghetti Parm. From those first 97 people, one person was selected to win Spaghetti Parm for LIFE! That individual is Julie Vacanti from Williamsville. Chef’s is now celebrating 97 years in business. Dave Jickster from WGRF-FM and the 97 Rock team assisted in this promotion.
Mary Beth Billittier added, “Our Dad and Mom ( Louis J. and Ann Billittier) worked very hard to make Chef’s Restaurant what it is today. They also taught us to give back to the community and thank our customers while supporting others. A portion of the proceeds from the opening weekend of Chef’s “On The Go” will help support a new Bocce Court for Amherst Youth and Recreation at Bassett Park in the Town of Amherst.
Chef’s On The Go Opens / page 2:
Lou and Mary Beth also announced that national franchise opportunities for Chef’s “On The Go” are available for those interested in bringing the taste of Western New York’s most popular Italian restaurant across the country.
The Billittier family are working with an impressive team that set the table for the new location and franchise opportunities. That team includes Richard Gioia, founder and managing member of Gioia Capital; Jim Geiger, associate broker with Maguire Development; Chris Covelli, founder in 2014 of the Get Fried franchise group; and Bryan Wittman, retired Walt Disney Company executive now principal in the Dry Creek Group for marketing and consulting. Those interested in franchising can go to a new website for information www.chefsfranchising.com
David Sutton is the architect who created the Chef’s “On The Go” interior and building design, which resembles the popular Seneca Street restaurant. A wall mural of photos shares the history of Chef’s, as designed by Abbey Mecca Marketing and Branding. The contractor on the project was Concept Construction Corporation of Elma, New York.
The Billittiers also recognized the owners and management of Williamsville Place, Jeff Levy and Jamie Constantine of DLC Development, along with A.J. Baynes and the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Amherst, the Amherst Police, plus the management team and associates from the downtown restaurant for their support.
“Chef’s On The Go” offers the same recipe for Spaghetti Parm that the downtown location offers, served in new environmentally friendly microwaveable containers. The dish was created by the late Louis J. Billittier with former WKBW television personality Dave Thomas close to sixty years ago. In a 2018 Buffalo News article, food writer Andrew Z. Galarneau wrote that, “…Together they worked out the format: spaghetti with a gloss of Chef’s tomato sauce, butter, and wall-to-wall mozzarella!” The dish is broiled to perfection and can be served with a meatball, sausage, or both along with Chef’s World Famous Sauce on the side.
As a special surprise, Dave Thomas and his wife Patti came back to Buffalo from their home in Philadelphia to join the family for the Grand Opening to share stories of how Spaghetti Parm was created. Dave is best known in Buffalo for his role as a weathercaster, co-host of “Dialing For Dollars” and host of the children’s program “Rocketship 7” in the 60’s and 70’s on Channel 7. Dave moved to Philadelphia in 1978 and was the #1 rated weatherman at the ABC station there until his retirement a few years ago. Dave and Patti’s son David Boreanaz is currently starring in “Seal Team” on CBS-TV.
Chef’s Restaurant of Buffalo, and Chef’s “On The Go” is the Home of the World Famous Spaghetti Parm. Chef’s “On The Go” is located at 5483 Sheridan Drive, Williamsville Place in Amherst, offering a fast convenient way to order and pick up food. Franchise opportunities are now available.
Chef’s Restaurant of Buffalo is located at 291 Seneca Street ( at the corner of Chicago ) in downtown Buffalo and has been in business close to 100 years. Chef’s was voted #4 in a Business First reader ranking as one of Western New York’s most popular Italian restaurants. Since the 1950’s, generations of the Billittier Family have owned and operated Chef’s. Chef’s also offers their World Famous Sauce in jars, available in several flavors at supermarkets across WNY. Owners Mary Beth Billittier and Lou Billittier, Jr. have been recognized for their philanthropy, supporting dozens of hometown charities.
Chef’s “On The Go” / 716-633-9646 / www.ilovechefsonthego.com / @ChefsOTG Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. Chef’s Restaurant of Buffalo, NY / 291 Seneca St., Buffalo, NY 14204 / 716-856-9187 / www.ilovechefs.com / @ChefsBuffalo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
