ROCHELLE — On Monday, Dec. 11, the City of Rochelle presented a facade grant check for $5,000 to Alfano’s Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant. 

The program covers half the cost of any improvements made to business fronts in town with a limit of $5,000. The exterior of their restaurant was upgraded with paint, a new sign and light fixtures. The check was accepted by Owners Pete Alfano Sr. and Pete Alfano Jr. 

“We do business in a community that supports businesses,” Alfano Sr. said. “From COVID-19 on down, they're always there for businesses to help them succeed. Not every community can say that. Rochelle can. The city gave grants to local businesses that needed it during COVID-19. Luckily, my business didn't need to take advantage of that. They're here for this community. I've felt for the past 30 years that the city is here for us as businesses. I remember when I first reopened my grandfather's place, there was a city program where it helped with utilities. That first year in business was pretty lean. And that little bit of help meant a lot to us. There are things that this community does for its businesses that we can be thankful for.”

City Community Development Director Michelle Pease thanked the Alfano family for giving back to the community and said it was nice to see the restaurant take part in a city program that helps businesses. 

“Throughout this community, there is a business that stands out and always gives back to the community,” Pease said. “It is awesome to see Alfano's finally take advantage of a city program and let us give something too. They're always giving, and it's just nice for us to see them reap the benefits of being so family and community-oriented.”

Mayor John Bearrows said the community is lucky to have a restaurant like Alfano’s, not just for its customer experience, but also for providing jobs and work experience to younger residents getting into the workforce. 

“Pete has provided jobs for high school kids and kids just out of high school that gave them something to do and those jobs have taught them all about the qualities that they need to survive in life and how to work with people,” Bearrows said. “We're so thankful to him for that, because a lot of young people wouldn't be where they're at today if they wouldn't have had their start right here at Alfano's.”

Alfano Jr. said the previous sign at the restaurant had started to show signs of age before the improvement and called the difference from then to now “phenomenal.”

“It makes me proud to see the difference and how it looks now,” Alfano Jr. said. “The weather had the old sign a little beat up. It's great to see how it looks now. We just want to keep evolving and moving forward as a business and work more with the city and the organizations here to make Rochelle the best town it can be.”