Meet Saverio: Gondolier

We had the good fortune of connecting with Saverio and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Saverio, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I’ve always gravitated to jobs that don’t feel like work. One of the first jobs I got right out of college was working as an instructor for the United States Adaptive Recreation Center at Bear Mountain Ski Resort in Big Bear Lake. I spent my days outside, on skis, helping people with disabilities have fun on the slopes. I absolutely loved it, and it never felt like work. Running my own business means I have the power to create a job that doesn’t feel like work for myself and my staff. We’re all working together to bring something really special to San Diego, but it doesn’t feel like work most of the time – we’re outside, we’re rowing gondolas, we’re bringing romance to the world one couple at a time… what’s not to love? Running a unique business like The Gondola Company means I spend my time bringing joy into our guests’ lives. I love that. 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started The Gondola Company with one gondola – a gondola I built with a couple of friends of mine – back in 1999. Since then, I’ve imported five gondolas from Venice, and our Venetian gondola fleet is now the largest in the United States. I also worked with a wooden boat craftsman from Maine to build a larger gondola-like boat, called a Caorlina, which can accommodate thirteen passengers at once for things like family celebrations, bachelorette parties, wine-tasting cruises, and even a gondola spa massage. Running a business like The Gondola Company means I have to know how to do a thousand different things – boat building, rowing, singing (!), employee morale management, accounting, event-planning, marketing… I could go on and on. But I love being busy, I love what I do, and I love the challenge of keeping all those plates spinning at once. That first gondola, by the way, went on to what I’ll call “a guest-starring role” as Charon’s ferry in the TV show “Preacher.”

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
No trip to San Diego is complete without a day at Balboa Park – the carousel is good, old-fashioned fun and of course the San Diego Zoo is unparalleled. When the kids were little, we’d take the aerial tram all the way out to the far side of the zoo first thing and then work our way back to the front. The Spanish Village Art Center is a great place to pick up a unique, locally made souvenir. And the sangria at The Prado is my wife’s favorite. Old Town is as touristy as it gets, but it’s still a fun place to wander around with visitors. The kids like dipping their own candles at Toby’s candles. We all like dipping our tortilla chips in the amazing jalapeno white sauce at Miguel’s. We also like visiting the donkeys and the blacksmith and woodworking shops in Seeley Yard. Because The Gondola Company owns a fleet of wooden boats, I’ve gotten to know quite a few folks over at The Maritime Museum of San Diego. The folks that work and volunteer there are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful both for people like myself with wooden boats to maintain, and just for regular visitors. A stop at the museum followed by a bite at the new Portside Pier (we like Ketch) is a nice way to spend a day. And, of course, while you’re downtown, an elevator ride up to Top of the Hyatt is always a great way to see San Diego Bay from dizzying heights, especially at sunset. For a lower key sort of day, we love relaxing in Coronado. Taking a walk around the Windsor Lawn at The Hotel del Coronado and then out onto the beach is hard to beat. Park Place Liquor & Deli makes great to-go sandwiches, perfect for impromptu beach picnicking. Back inside the Hotel Del, we like grabbing drinks at Babcock & Story bar which features seasonal cocktails and a casual atmosphere. It’s always fun to show visitors the L. Frank Baum House in Coronado (1101 Star Park Circle) where the Baum wrote three of the books in his Oz series, and to walk or bike along the streets of Coronado where charming cottages and breathtaking estates sit side-by-side.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be able to dedicate myself to The Gondola Company the way I do without the support of my family – my kids are old enough now that they’re able to help with some of the ongoing maintenance of the boats, which is fun. Wooden boats need a lot of care! To that end, I’ve also developed great relationships with local businesses and artisans who help me to maintain the gondolas – places like San Diego Marine Exchange, and my go-to expert craftsman, Salvatore. And of course, what would a gondola ride be without a little bit of decadent chocolate? Eclipse Chocolate in South Park has been providing our all-natural, artisan truffles for years.

Website: https://www.gondolacompany.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegondolacompany/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegondolacompany
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-gondola-company-coronado
Other: Tripadvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g32250-d1775683-Reviews-The_Gondola_Company-Coronado_California.html

Image Credits
All photos owned by The Gondola Company