Entrepreneurship is in Their Blood: Mount Kisco Business Spotlight

Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. The plan behind this series at Patch is to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well.

This is as much about supporting local businesses as it is about celebrating the places and faces that make our community special. Click here to get to a simple form where local business owners can answer a few quick questions to be part of this ongoing feature.

Our spotlight today is on Isi and Frannie Albanese.

Business: Frannie’s Goodie Shop
Owners: Frannie & Isi Albanese
Website: http://www.franniesgoodieshop.com
Address: 134 E Main Street, Mt. Kisco, NY 10549

How did you come up with the name?
The Goody Shop was a staple restaurant/ice cream/candy shop in Mt. Kisco during my youth. I wanted to create a similar spirit this restaurant created for me and the Baby Boomers. This is my version of a goodie shop, hence Frannie’s Goodie Shop.

Why choose that location? Why start a business in this town?
This is the town I was born and raised in and still reside in today.

Briefly, what business are you in?
Frozen Desserts/Candy/Coffee & Goodies

What’s the most difficult moment or challenge you’ve faced as a business owner?
Last winter was a pretty challenging time for a frozen dessert business. We have had coffee/goodies/candy from the beginning to help during this timeframe. We have also put together a Party & Catering Menu for our customers to let them know exactly what we can do above and beyond the in-house products.

Were there any challenges that made you second guess your decision to be an entrepreneur?
No. We (my husband and Isi and I) have always been in our own business. It’s in our blood, and we are the ones responsible for our livelihood.

What’s been your favorite moment or proudest achievement since opening?
Being approached by The Plaza to open there in 2012. This was a great compliment, and we are doing very well at The Plaza Food Hall. It’s like being on a world stage.

What’s the most innovative idea your employees or customers have had that you put into practice?
Frannie’s Fro-Nini. We featured this at Westchester Magazine’s Burger Bash and Grand Tasting recently. We also featured it in Chef’s Night Out at The Plaza Food Hall store, and it was a big hit amongst the James Beard crowd. It’s a sweet bun filled with a crunchy Nutella-like product and froyo or gelato and pressed in a panini machine so it’s warm on the outside and cool/crunchy on the inside!

How do you deal with difficult customers?
Listen to them...hear them out, and then make good on their complaint.

How does your business give back or get involved in the community?
We get involved with our local community through a number of ways--our most productive “fun”-raising program can be used by the schools and any local charity, where we have the school or charity sell our $10 gift cards, and we give back $3 on every gift card sold to the school or charity. We donate our time/products to charitable events that happen around each store as well. We also give a lot to local silent auctions and advertise in local advertising journals for various events/activities.