Josie’s took over a space in the Independence clubhouse next to the pro shop. (BizSense file photos)
In the two years since her family closed their longtime Midlothian restaurant, A Taste of Italy, Josephine Parlanti has felt a bit like a fish out of water as she looked for a new career path.
Her family had run the restaurant for 25 years and Parlanti grew up in the business, first working under her father’s tutelage and later with her brother as co-owner. Other family members had restaurants going back 40 years.
Though food and hospitality are very much in her blood, she said she and her brother were burned out when they decided to close. Parlanti decided to try other things, to no avail.
“After I left the restaurant business, I tried everything else,” said Parlanti, 43. “I went from an office job to a doctor’s office. But I’m a hands-on person and I missed the restaurant tremendously.”
Josie Parlanti
So back she came to thinking about a return to the industry she knows best, but with a plan to eliminate some of the grind of running a full-service restaurant every day. A coffee shop came to mind.
“We talked about doing something for myself and something small enough for me to do on my own,” she said.
Then one day last October, Parlanti was along for the ride with her husband, a retired Marine and avid golfer, as he was looking for a local golf course to join. They happened to pop into Independence Golf Club in Midlothian, about 10 miles north of her old restaurant.
An Independence employee was showing them around the clubhouse and took them through a space next to the pro shop and mentioned that Independence owner Giff Breed was thinking about putting a coffee shop there.
“My husband said, ‘Well, my wife wants to open a coffee shop.’”
Six months later, Josie’s Coffee & Boutique is now open for business in that same space. Parlanti opened the shop late last month, serving coffee, baked goods and also selling gifts.
She’s buying coffee beans from Guide Roasting Co. in Chesterfield and Roastology in Richmond. Her bagels come from Cupertino’s in Henrico and her pastries are from Di Gennaro Bakery in Midlothian.
As for a learning curve to become a coffee shop owner, Parlanti said growing up Italian taught her to make cappuccino and espresso. But she did have to learn a couple new tricks.
“The hardest part was learning what I call the monster machine. It’s a big, very expensive coffee machine. Independence already had it on hand, they just never really used it and it needed some TLC,” she said.
Parlanti hired two former Taste of Italy employees to work at her new shop.
Parlanti said she’s still feeling out the ebb and flow of the prime hours of a golf club and learning what the residents of the surrounding Founders Bridge neighborhood want.
“We’re trying to figure out what works for everybody. We’re hoping to win the business of all the people in Founders Bridge,” she said.
On the drawing board is a plan to allow customers to drive up for door-to-door to-go coffee service, to capitalize long-term on the fact that the nearest coffee shop is about four miles away.
“People have been very welcoming, generous and understanding. From what I see it seems like they want this to work because it’s a necessity in the area,” she said.
Josie’s will also soon be joined by another new food offering at Independence. Local chain The Cocky Rooster is preparing to open a location in the golf course turn-house.
Now back in the business, so-to-speak, Parlanti doesn’t have to look far to see ties to her restaurant days. Two former A Taste of Italy employees work for her at Josie’s. And she said her father, Rosario Parlanti, still keeps an eye on what she’s up to.
“He loves it,” she said.
And does her father have dreams of his children someday reviving A Taste of Italy?
“Every single day,” she said. “I’ve told Giff, ‘If you can convince my brother to open A Taste of Italy at Independence, it would be phenomenal.’”
Josie’s took over a space in the Independence clubhouse next to the pro shop. (BizSense file photos)
In the two years since her family closed their longtime Midlothian restaurant, A Taste of Italy, Josephine Parlanti has felt a bit like a fish out of water as she looked for a new career path.
Her family had run the restaurant for 25 years and Parlanti grew up in the business, first working under her father’s tutelage and later with her brother as co-owner. Other family members had restaurants going back 40 years.
Though food and hospitality are very much in her blood, she said she and her brother were burned out when they decided to close. Parlanti decided to try other things, to no avail.
“After I left the restaurant business, I tried everything else,” said Parlanti, 43. “I went from an office job to a doctor’s office. But I’m a hands-on person and I missed the restaurant tremendously.”
Josie Parlanti
So back she came to thinking about a return to the industry she knows best, but with a plan to eliminate some of the grind of running a full-service restaurant every day. A coffee shop came to mind.
“We talked about doing something for myself and something small enough for me to do on my own,” she said.
Then one day last October, Parlanti was along for the ride with her husband, a retired Marine and avid golfer, as he was looking for a local golf course to join. They happened to pop into Independence Golf Club in Midlothian, about 10 miles north of her old restaurant.
An Independence employee was showing them around the clubhouse and took them through a space next to the pro shop and mentioned that Independence owner Giff Breed was thinking about putting a coffee shop there.
“My husband said, ‘Well, my wife wants to open a coffee shop.’”
Six months later, Josie’s Coffee & Boutique is now open for business in that same space. Parlanti opened the shop late last month, serving coffee, baked goods and also selling gifts.
She’s buying coffee beans from Guide Roasting Co. in Chesterfield and Roastology in Richmond. Her bagels come from Cupertino’s in Henrico and her pastries are from Di Gennaro Bakery in Midlothian.
As for a learning curve to become a coffee shop owner, Parlanti said growing up Italian taught her to make cappuccino and espresso. But she did have to learn a couple new tricks.
“The hardest part was learning what I call the monster machine. It’s a big, very expensive coffee machine. Independence already had it on hand, they just never really used it and it needed some TLC,” she said.
Parlanti hired two former Taste of Italy employees to work at her new shop.
Parlanti said she’s still feeling out the ebb and flow of the prime hours of a golf club and learning what the residents of the surrounding Founders Bridge neighborhood want.
“We’re trying to figure out what works for everybody. We’re hoping to win the business of all the people in Founders Bridge,” she said.
On the drawing board is a plan to allow customers to drive up for door-to-door to-go coffee service, to capitalize long-term on the fact that the nearest coffee shop is about four miles away.
“People have been very welcoming, generous and understanding. From what I see it seems like they want this to work because it’s a necessity in the area,” she said.
Josie’s will also soon be joined by another new food offering at Independence. Local chain The Cocky Rooster is preparing to open a location in the golf course turn-house.
Now back in the business, so-to-speak, Parlanti doesn’t have to look far to see ties to her restaurant days. Two former A Taste of Italy employees work for her at Josie’s. And she said her father, Rosario Parlanti, still keeps an eye on what she’s up to.
“He loves it,” she said.
And does her father have dreams of his children someday reviving A Taste of Italy?
“Every single day,” she said. “I’ve told Giff, ‘If you can convince my brother to open A Taste of Italy at Independence, it would be phenomenal.’”
Congratulations Jo! We will visit and support! We are also fully on board with bringing Taste of Italy to Independence!!! Make it happen!
Thanks Bob. Hope the family is well
I have stopped by Josie’s a number of times. The shop has a cool vibe. Her coffee is great and the pastries are terrific. Good luck to Josie, I will see you again soon.
Thanks so much for the support Thomas
Love this & looking forward to getting over there!
Thanks John.
Would love to see Taste of Italy back in action!! Congratulations to Josie and Independence Golf Club on this partnership.
We can always say “maybe one day”.
Awesome addition! Congrats
Thanks Ryan