The Chas. Rothmann Steakhouse and the Scotto family, one of the owners of the East Norwich restaurant, both recently received awards.

Rothmann's Steakhouse received the annual "Black Walnut Award" presented by the Committee for the Beautification of East Norwich. The restaurant, founded by Charles and Franziska Rothmann in 1907, has had several owners and incarnations since it was sold by the Rothmann family in 1970.

The present, redesigned building, was completed on Dec. 5, 1998 by owners Mario Sbarro, Tony Scotto and Salvatore Moscato. It was chosen to receive the award for outstanding efforts in the beautification and enrichment of a business property.

The Scotto Brothers received the C.W. Post 2000 Family Business of the Year Award in category III, for a family business with more than 250 employees. Owners, their families and employees were recognized at a ceremony held on Dec. 6 at the Hilton Huntington. The awards program emphasizes the positive contributions made by family-owned firms to the community and Long Island's economy. In addition to business success, winners showed positive family/business linkage, multi-generational family business involvement, innovative business practices or strategies, and contributions to industry and the local community.

When the Scotto family opened a small Port Washington pizzeria in 1967, no one could have predicted that their business would blossom into a $40 million company, encompassing everything from restaurants to real estate. Today, Scotto Brothers Enterprise, founded by brothers Anthony, Victor and Vincent Scotto, and their brother-in-law Domenico Tallarico, continues growing and in the next several years they intend to double their sales.

As Scotto's Pizzeria became profitable, the Scotto founders, along with their children, opened several more restaurants, including the Steer Barn Steakhouses. In 1977, they made their first foray into catering with the Chateau Briand. This venture was so successful that they then opened Westbury Manor in 1981 and Fox Hollow in 1987. Recently, they've expanded the family business to include real estate, venturing into the hotel business and developing new restaurant concepts across the tri-state area. Throughout all the growth, the Scotto family has also expanded, and many of their children have joined the family business.

The Scotto family, who all still live within a five-mile radius of one another, divide the day-to-day responsibilities of running their business among the family. In the beginning, each founding brother oversaw a facility or two. Now that the company and the family have grown, the Scottos assign responsibilities based on each individual's strengths and assets. So, for instance, those with a creative bent head the marketing, training, planning or design tasks, leaving things like financial planning to the "numbers people."

The true secret to the Scottos success, though, is their ability to work as a family unit. "Our commitment to the business stems from the love each member has for the business, the pursuit of ever-escalating standards of excellence, and our ability to maintain an impeccable business ethic," said Anthony Scotto. "We take great pride in our work, and derive immense pleasure from the effusive praise we receive from our customers. Our strong family commitment guides our strong business commitment," brother, Victor Scotto adds.

Making time for family remains a number-one priority. The Scottos plan their responsibilities so every member can spend time with their loved ones. Mothers have flexible schedules so they can raise their families and work the business. In fact, it isn't strange at all to see children in the office or at board meetings. One of the Scotto facilities even houses a baby nursery. "We always bring love to the table. Every day, we sit together as a family, both family members and employees, to eat lunch together," said Silvana Scotto-Zangri, "There we share ideas, feelings and stories. It's a comforting atmosphere, like home." The Scotto family takes pride in giving back to their community. Collectively they sit on the board or participate in about 30 different charities, including the Don Monti Foundation, The Dante Foundation, Cerebral Palsy, The American Heart Association and Cancer Care. "By dedicating ourselves to higher education, the improvement of school facilities and programs, raising money for medical advancement and the elimination of disease; and to feeding the hungry of our community, we help to provide a safe community for all," said Scotto-Zangri.

The Committee for the Beautification of East Norwich was started 22 years ago by a small group of residents headed by Eleanor Mullally and Jordan Yale.

The award given to Rothmann's is given annually by the committee to a business establishment that has beautified their commercial property by way of landscaping or by way of construction.

The most recent winners of the prize were John Napolitano and JoVon photography.

The committee is considering its award for next year, and recommendations from readers would be gratefully appreciated, said Jack Scheich, committee president. Mail your suggestions to their post office address: CBEN, P.O. Box 172 , East Norwich, NY 11732; or E mail President Jack Scheich at JackSEsq@aol.com.