Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I am a very family first type of guy. Family is everything to me. My dad is my best friend!  I moved to Brooklyn NY with my parents and two older sisters when I was 3 years old from Ukraine.  I am the hardworking person that I am because of the example my parents set for me.   My wife, Elena was a kindergarten teacher by profession however she is now my business partner at PrimoHoagies.  We always wanted to work together and now we are living that dream!

Q: Please tell us about your current career. What do you love most about what you do?
I started working at Planet Fitness when I was 17 years and started with a front desk position and climbed my way up. I ended up as a regional manager and co-owner of Planet Fitness.  Now, I am a co-owner of @PrimoHoagiesNorthernNJ. I love working with my team and seeing them grow with us. Especially since we have at least 9 more locations to open in Northern NJ!  We are located right here in Mahwah and we are proud sponsors of The Mahwah School Foundation!

Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Nagoya is great for my sushi fix! Sonny and Tony’s pizza in our plaza is also great. And of course can’t go without PrimoHoagies! 🙂

Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
We have been under new ownership for about 6 months now and open to the public for the last 3 months.

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Dennis Harrington was our very first customer we had when we opened and we have become like family. We were all very nervous on opening day and wanted to make sure all goes well, and having Dennis as our first customer, set the tone for us in such a positive way.  He is a kind and genuine person of the Mahwah community. We see him 4-5 times a week and having a loyal customer like that is awesome! We love catching up with him every time he comes in!

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Ukraine and Italy. I was born in Ukraine and my wife’s family is from Italy.  My wife and I were going to take our first trip to Italy and Ukraine this year right before the pandemic hit and of course are plan have been delayed.

Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
King of queens!!!!

Q: What advice would you give to people?
Focus on being a good person and making people smile

Q: What is something on your bucket list?
To pay off my dads mortgage one day.

Q: What is your go to band when you cant decide what to listen to?
I don’t listen to any specific band but I do love house music.

Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Mahwah wine and liquors!  Those guys are absolutely the best! Great people and very welcoming!

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?
Tim Tebow. I have always been a huge fan of his both professionally and as an individual. I’d treat him to PrimoHoagies!!

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
Everyone seems very proud to be a Mahwahian 🙂

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Having all of our locations in North Jersey open and serving all of our communities respectively

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I am extremely competitive . Sometimes too much.

Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Bermuda with my wife on our honeymoon 🙂

Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
April 16. My birthday 🙂

Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Our Italian hoagie!

Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My wife, Elena! All day everyday!

Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Gasoline and pickles

Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Love, warmth, happiness