Today we’d like to introduce you to Leo Karruli.
Leo, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I came from Albania when it was a communist country. I left Albania to Italy on a boat. From Italy, I stayed about 9 months and then I immigrated to the United States in Queens, New York. From there my cousin moved to Florida to open an Italian restaurant and I went with him to work as a dishwasher.
There, I learned how to cook Italian food. My dream was to open my own Italian restaurant. I was given an opportunity to partner with someone to open an Italian restaurant. After a couple of years, I opened my own small Italian restaurant called Leo’s Pizza Italian Restaurant.
After the success of the first restaurant I opened, I ended up opening up 19 restaurants across Palm Harbor and Dunedin, Florida. With my wife by my side and working together with my family.
I was working so hard to try and reach the American dream. I did a lot of commercial real estate which led me to buying the Galleria Mall in Johnstown Pennsylvania which is where I am now.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The struggles were very hard in the beginning when I came to America. I didn’t speak English and I was trying to save money. I was working 7 days a week nonstop.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a hard working individual and I try to focus on the community and the people on what they want and what is best for the community. It is why I have had so much success and why I will continue to succeed.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The mall industry is only getting better. I believe in hard work and focusing on the community, malls will come back and be stronger. It will be a place where people can go to not only for shopping but to come together and meet as a whole community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://johnstowngalleria.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CE7BvaC5q/?mibextid=wwXIfr
