He Traded A BlackRock Desk For 300 Employees And Seven-Day Weeks
Anthony Scotto III, 30, left BlackRock's real estate private-equity team, where he was an assistant portfolio manager on one of its largest funds, to build Pelato with his mother Theresa. Opened in Nashville in September 2023, the Brooklyn-Italian concept now spans three cities, employs 300 people and expects to serve roughly 450,000 guests this year, with two more restaurants committed for 2027.
The numbers climbed: revenue at the original Nashville location rose 76% in its second full year, then 34%, with 10% forecast this year, and break-even arrived in month three. The ledger that stays unwritten reads differently. Scotto works seven days a week, rarely takes vacation, and told Fortune he has never worked harder or been more stressed. A handwritten family address in Ischia waits, unvisited.
Source: Fortune · September 26, 2026