The food business has always been in Don Smeriglio’s blood. He grew up in West Methuen with his parents, Joseph and Constance and his sister, Carlene (Godwin). His father owned a diner that young Don loved working at when he was a young boy. “When I was 7, 8 years old I used to help out at the diner – at least I thought I was helping out, I was probably in the way more than anything.” Joseph Smeriglio eventually sold the diner and both of his parents worked at Messina’s catering.
When Don turned 14 he began thinking about possible career paths and decided to attend the recently opened “Voke”. “I wanted to learn a trade and I didn’t think I wanted to go to college.” The vocational school in Andover was a new option in the Merrimack Valley. At the time, the school was all boys and the students were required to wear a shirt, tie and sport coat during their academic weeks. Despite the styles of the day, the boys were not allowed to sport mustaches or sideburns below their ears.
Freshman year Don had to choose among four career paths; carpentry, electrical, metal fabrication and culinary – with carpentry being his first choice. Until he met Eddie Coakley, the former Director of the Culinary Arts Department, and he was hooked. “Eddie Coakley believed in me and I latched onto him. He took me under his wing and he guided me.” Don stayed in touch with Ed Coakley until his death in 2007.
“My dad told me that if I was going to go into this business I’d be working nights, weekend and holidays but if it was what I wanted then I should follow my dreams.” But, his father said, if he was going to stick with it he was going to do it the right way. Don’s father wanted him to go to college. At the time Smeriglio was working part time at The Red Tavern in Methuen, the restaurant’s owner, Howard Freedman, provided a $2,000 scholarship for Don to attend the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. “Without the voke, and without Howard Freedman, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
One of his most memorable career highlights was making dinner for President Jimmy Carter at the Sheraton Boxboro Inn in Clinton, Ma. Among the dignitaries at the private dinner that night were Gov. Michal Dukakis, House Speaker Tip O’Neil and Sen. Edward Kennedy. “That was a highlight, especially at a young age. My parents were very proud of me.”
After years of working for others, Smeriglio decided he wanted to go into business for himself. In 1992 he found an 1100 square foot deli on Merrimack Street in Methuen and bought the business. He kept the name “Borrelli’s” and began work with one employee and it was very soon a success. One day, a favorite customer named Gail came in and asked if he could make 100 boxed lunches for a catering order. “Sure”, Don said, even though he’d never sold them before. The lunch was a hit and not long after Don and Gail would be married.
Twenty-five years later Borrelli’s is at a much larger location with 25 employees and open seven days a week. The secret to his success, he says, is simple: he never, ever sacrifices quality and his product is always, always consistent. Borrelli’s serves 1,000 pounds of sausages a week and 3,000 pounds during the height of summer. In addition to sausages the deli sells imported pastas, olive oils, cheeses imported from Italy, tomato products, cold cuts, and full line of home cooked foods.
And through it all Don Smeriglio has remained involved with The Greater Lawrence Technical School where he has served on the advisory board for over thirty years. “The school has been very good to me through the years. I try to give back the best I can. I want to see the school succeed – that’s the bottom line.”