Life & Work with Steve Del Gardo of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve Del Gardo.

Hi Steve, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story began almost 40 years ago, when I was just a chef’s apprentice at an Italian restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. Even back then, I knew that someday I would own an Italian restaurant.

But as life often does, my path took me in a completely different direction.

I graduated from college with a degree in Graphic Arts and went on to build a career as an IT sales representative. Along the way, I got married, had a child, got divorced, married again, and eventually divorced again.

Then life changed in a way I never expected.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I nearly died. But I fought, survived, and beat it.

That experience led me to found Protect The Pecs, a breast cancer awareness foundation that I ran for five years. It became another important chapter in my life and taught me just how precious life really is.

Through all of those twists and turns, that old dream of owning an Italian restaurant never completely disappeared. It was always there, tucked away somewhere in the back of my mind.

Then one day, my father asked me a simple but life-changing question:

“What do you want to do with the rest of your life?”

I thought about it for a few minutes and realized I didn’t want to go back into the corporate world. I wanted to do something that would make me happy—but, more importantly, something that would make other people happy, too.

At first, I thought maybe I would open a coffee bar. But there were already so many coffee shops in the city.

Then that old dream came back to life.

I realized I didn’t have to open an Italian restaurant.

I could create something completely different.

Something that had never been done before.

And that’s when the idea for Del Gardo’s Cannoli Bar was born—the city’s first-ever Cannoli Bar.

In 2018, 32 years after I first dreamed of owning an Italian restaurant, Del Gardo’s Cannoli Bar became a reality.

It wasn’t just the beginning of a business.

It was the beginning of a new career, a new chapter, and a new life.

Sometimes, the dreams we have when we’re young take a long time to find their way back to us.

Mine took 32 years.

And I’m so glad I never gave up on it.

Life is good. ❤️🇮🇹

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I was a bit naive when it came to opening a dessert cafe. I didn’t realize the costs, the hidden costs and the ongoing costs of operating a business. It was learn on the go. Made many mistakes but I have learned and I keep learning as I still navigate this industry. Most restaurants fail in 12 months or so. I started this business two years before Covid and I am still here. During that time, many restaurants closed but I actually grew my sales upwards to 25%.

After 8 years in business, the challenges/obstacles are the based on how to keep evolving by offering different services to the community. I am doing fine.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in creating gourmet cannoli and tiramisu. When I first started the business, I had 25 flavors of cannoli but by 2026, I have created over 25o flavors. My whole premise is to push the envelope in creating exciting cannoli recipes that will test the boundaries.

Most cannoli places throughout the Country stay within the boundaries of cannoli, meaning that they use the standard ricotta filling with bland toppings or use a custard filling to make sweeter. With my recipes, I do use ricotta but also have mascarpone with heavy cream then I can add multiple of spices, liqueurs, and other items when I create those gourmet flavors. Also, I have a specific process of blending the creams which is a guarded secret.

One of things I am most proud of is that I was able to build a cannoli business in an area of the Country that has a heavy on German influence. People thought I was crazy and was told I was never going to last on just selling cannoli at $4 each. Proved everyone wrong!

What does success mean to you?
Everyone defines success in different ways. Most people define it in how much they have in the bank, or how many locations they have, or what they drive or live in. I define it how my life is now compared to when I was working 9 to 5 in the sales industry.

I love what I do is more important than anything.

Success to me is when I see a customer enjoying eating my cannoli creation.

Pricing:

• $4 each for the Cannoli
• $10.99 each for Tiramisu
• $100 for large Tiramisu Tray
• Special pricing on bulk orders

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.delgardos.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delgardoscannoli
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/delgardoscannoli