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EVENTS
Vince Morena’s Plaza Management Group Back At It The grand opening of Plaza Centre-Ville Photography by Leandro Phederrico
Vincenzo Morena started working in the food & service industry as just a young boy. As a 12-year-old, he delivered pizzas by bike and on foot for Mello’s pizzeria on St. Viateur Street. “I can still smell the pizzas cooking in the woodburning oven,” remembers the 67-year-old. “Everybody loved the pizzas; it was my pleasure to deliver them.” He has come a long way since his pizza delivery days in the 1960s. Morena is now President of the Plaza Tony Amicone, Vincenzo Morena and Steve Gagliano Management Group (PMG), which owns and operates several reception halls and convention centers in the Montreal area. The group inaugurated their eighth venue – Plaza Centre-Ville – at a celebratory cocktail this past August. “This venue is right in the heart of Montreal and it’s a beautiful place for weddings, social and corporate events,” he explains. “We’re excited to add Plaza Centre-Ville to the group of PMG properties.” Morena has more than 30 years of experience in the banquet hall industry and always remains passionate about his evolving industry. He opened his first reception hall in 1984 and hasn’t looked back since. He’s still as excited as his first days in the early 1980s. Morena and his team at Plaza Centre-Ville – which includes his two sons, Marco and Massimo, as well as partners Steve Gagliano and Tony Amicone – personally selected the chefs for the new venue. “The chefs we hire are highly qualified and have mastered their trade,” he specifies. “We look for chefs with experience and expertise. It’s about consistency – we want beautiful dishes that always taste great.” Morena is fully committed to being involved in all aspects of his business. “It’s very important for each of our properties to continuously keep a high level of professionals working for our clients.”
Marco, Vincenzo and Massimo Morena
With his many years of experience, he says his passion for fresh food and good service harks back to his days working in his father’s grocery store on Clark Street. “I used to love waking up early in the morning and going to the Jean-Talon market before school to choose the produce,” recalls Morena. “To me it was such a challenge to visit all the vendors and see who could give me the best price for the best quality.” Despite his sense of ease, Morena admits the reception hall industry can be a pretty tough business. He says the competition is fierce and clients are increasingly demanding. “This is one of the most challenging businesses out there because so many clients have unique needs. If you don’t have passion, patience, knowledge and organizational skills in this business you will not succeed.” Morena says the secret to his success is simple: “I’m a good psychologist,” he laughs. “When the bride, the groom, the in-laws and the rest of the wedding party come to meet me, everyone’s got an opinion. I try my best to read the situation and make everyone happy.” If the success of the PMG group is any indication, Vincenzo Morena has been making many Montrealers very happy. Photography by Foto Zazz
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