Hello! My name is Jennifer Maione, mostly known around town as Jenn. I’ve lived in LaGrange since 1995 moving up here from Ft. Lauderdale, where I was raised after being born in New Jersey. I currently work for Mare Sol as the Front of the House Manager and Bartender. I have worked for the Hudson’s since 2011, which I love!! They are great people to work for and I consider them my family, my work family for sure!
About Jennifer Maione
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I am the mother of two children, my son Michaelangelo who lives here in LaGrange and works for Home Depot where he is a department supervisor. My daughter Annacapri is currently a senior at UNCA in Asheville North Carolina.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I have actually worked in restaurants since i was 15. My first job was an oyster schucker in Ft. Lauderdale. I continued my education after high school in becoming a court reporter, but still continuing to work for restaurants where I learned how to bartend. I love what I do, it is rewarding, but everyday there are different challenges, but I think that is what keeps me going, something different every day. I have made so many friends/regulars and I do love and appreciate them so much, and that I mean truly. I work for and with some amazing people, and they make it easy for me to show up everyday.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Success comes from hard work, its very gratifying and so worth it in the end. Love what you do.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Ah! the question the controls my life, haha. I’m hoping with proper focus on saving and paying off my debts I’ll be somewhere tropical, but its probably going to be closer to 10 years not 5.
Jennifer Maione & Our Community
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
I Love going out to eat!! I rarely get an opportunity to go, but when I do, I enjoy all of them, from Sakura to Los Nopales, Pizza Villa, Bulls, Fatdaddys, Venucci, Cart Barn and of course Mare Sol, C Sons and Beacon.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I have worked here since I moved here in 1995. My first job was at Milanos on New Franklin Road. I also worked for First Federal as a customer service representative, but decided to take time off working when my daughter was born. I decided to go back to the restaurant business so me and my now ex husband could switch shifts on watching our children.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
I can’t just pick one. There are so many intriguing people here, being from the north and learning about southern culture has been very interesting to me, and hearing stories from so many that were born and raised in the south.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
I would have to say First Federal. I miss the small-town banking. Another great place to work.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I guess the small-town feel, I’m just now getting used to everyone knowing each other, and the relationships everyone has with each other.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Oh gosh, there’s so many, but I consider myself lucky because I get to have lunch or dinner with all my favorite people on any given day.
For Fun
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
The Breakfast Club. Growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, I miss everything related to that time era.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
My father was born in Naples Italy and came to the U.S. with his mother, father and three siblings in 1969. Landed in New Jersey where he worked for the port authority in New York.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Spending uninterupted time with my children. I look forward to our yearly family vacation.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My children of course. I hope that between their father and myself that they know that hard work does pay off. I want them to be proud of me being their mom as I am proud to be their mom <3
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
My Happy Place!!
