Opening the new Caffe Doppio coffee shop in Pennsville is a full-circle moment for business owner Michelle Padalino-Walsh.
Born in Palermo, Sicily, Padalino-Walsh said she came to America at a young age as her parents pursued their version of the American dream.
Their journey led them to the restaurant business and the opening of Franco’s Pizza in 2005 on North Broadway in Pennsville. That exact location is where their daughter has now opened Caffe Doppio.
“It’s really special to be back where I grew up,” Padalino-Walsh said.
Padalino-Walsh said the training she received for her current venture has been life-long and immersive.
“I grew up in Italian restaurants my whole life—whether they were ours, or belonged to family and friends,” she said. “In Italy, it’s very common to know your way around a pizzeria or restaurant.”
Though it began as playtime, her experience helping her parents eventually evolved into on-the-job training.
“When I was around 8 years old, I would make little pizzas out of Play-Doh and try to sell them to customers,” the new business owner said.
“As I got older, I learned how to use the register, take orders, waitress, and work in the kitchen with my mom. Eventually, I learned how to run the shop so my parents could take a day off.”
But soon, Padalino-Walsh said, she began seeking new experiences.
“After graduating high school, I decided to explore what the outside world had to offer,” she said.
She began working in retail, while still helping her parents with their business.
“My parents instilled in me a strong work ethic and dedication,” Padalino-Walsh said. “I would work at a cafe from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m., then manage a retail store until 5 p.m., and head to the restaurant afterward until midnight. I’ve always been a driven person—and I still am.”
When her parents sold Franco’s in 2018, she continued working as a retail store manager for the past six years.
“That job taught me invaluable skills—how to train, interview, think on my feet, and so much more,” she said. “I’m incredibly thankful for those experiences.”
While she appreciated those experiences, she said one day she came to the realization that she needed to make a change and do something that truly made her happy.
“I had a light bulb moment—a pivotal point that changed the course of my life,” she said. “I realized that life is never promised, and we shouldn’t wait to take risks, enjoy the little things, or chase our dreams.”
She decided she needed to get back to her roots – back to the restaurant business, and back to Sicily, at least in spirit.
“Our culture has always meant so much to us, and we wanted to bring a piece of it here,” she said.
Soon the concept for Caffe Doppio was born.
Billed as a Sicilian Espresso Bar, the cafe features coffee drinks, traditional Sicilian pastries made in house, and assorted treats imported from Italy.
“Opening a Sicilian café always felt like a ‘maybe one day’ dream – something I imagined doing later in life, maybe even after retirement,” Padalino-Walsh said. “It was always something I hoped to do with my mom.”
She said her mother Marina and husband Josh have been on board since the beginning, and that it’s taken about two years to get ready to launch the new venture.
“We wanted our guests to feel like they are family,” she said. “We also wanted guests to feel like they stepped into a small cafe in Sicily.”
The shop held its grand opening late last month and the Pennsville area has already been there to welcome the concept with open arms.
“The community has been nothing but supportive,” she said. “Community is what keeps us strong. We wouldn’t be here without everyone’s love and support.”
Caffe Doppio has been extremely active on social media. Be sure to follow them for updates and events on Facebook and at @caffedoppionj on Instagram and TikTok.
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