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Community Corner

6 Questions for a San Marino Local: Gina-Marie Stea

A local restaurant owner takes on the San Marino Six.

Come July 24, one of the city’s most popular restaurants, the , will celebrate its 46th anniversary.

What’s the secret to their success? Owner Gina-Marie Stea says it’s simple--hard work.

“My father and mother started this business,” said Stea. “As I grew up, my father told my siblings and me to ‘Work hard. Don’t count the hours you work but count the number of people you make happy.' He treated each customer as his special guest.”

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Whenever Stea left for her job at the restaurant, her father Walter Celic would always remind her to, “Verk hard.”

“My father came from Croatia so he didn’t necessary say ‘work hard’ it was ‘verk hard,” said Stea. “As children you don’t want to hear it, but he’d always tell us, ‘Remember to verk hard.'”

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Similar to Cheers, The San Marino Grill is a place where everyone knows your name and they’re always glad you came. Throughout our interview, Stea perks up at the sight of familiar faces--“Hi Chuck”--greeting hungry customers with a simple handshake and smile.

“What’s fun for me now that I’m back here is recognizing all the people I waited on while I was in high school and meeting their children and grandchildren,” said the San Marino High School alumnus. “It’s really fun to have that hometown feeling. You don’t get that in a lot of places.”

After graduating from high school, Stea studied journalism and political science at the University of Southern California. Following her four years at USC, Stea moved to New York City where she worked for NBC news. She lived on the East Coast for 20 years and no longer saw herself in the restaurant business--especially married with four boys.

“My father wasn’t the type to retire. He worked until he was 83,” said Stea. “One Thursday he called me and said the place is yours on Monday. I had just applied to get my Master’s in Education so I didn’t expect the transition to happen like that.”

Stea is grateful that her father was on hand to supervise as she took over the Grill. Her father would sit on a stool and watch as she worked. He passed away last February.

“We would always tease him that he went from being a restaurant owner to a restaurant critic,” said Stea. “He was always well-meaning. We were grateful to have his expertise.”

Stea has worked every job at the San Marino Grill--from washing floors to serving.

“We grew up never being too proud to do any job,” said the mother of four. “I think that’s what my parents instilled in us--‘Never be too proud to verk.’”

Stea’s family stops by the restaurant for breakfast and lunch. Her sons--which she kindly refers to as “the human vacuums”--often come in on weekends to savor their favorite dishes.

The busy mother and restaurant owner took time out of her schedule to take on the San Marino Six.

What do you like most about San Marino?

My favorite thing about San Marino is by far the community. The people here are wonderful and very friendly. San Marino is just like comfort food--it’s a comfort community.

What is your favorite restaurant in San Marino?

The – of course. I eat here 24/7. People always ask me, ‘Is the food any good?’ I always say, ‘Yeah, I eat here all the time.'

What is your favorite place in San Marino to take a stroll or go for a run?

The track at .

What is a little known fact about you?

I used to work for NBC News.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Jamoca Almond Fudge.

What is your favorite dish on the San Marino Grill menu?

I would have to say the Reuben. It’s very popular and it’s very good. It's meat and corn beef. 

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