Melissa:

Fenicci’s is a family-owned Italian restaurant that has been part of the Hershey community since 1935. We serve classic Italian dishes while preserving the original recipes and traditions that have made Fenicci’s what it is today. More than anything, we aim to create a place where people feel at home.

Kveta:

Fenicci’s is about hospitality, tradition, and community. We are here to bring people together over food, memories, and shared experiences.

Melissa:

My dad Phil purchased Fenicci’s in 2006 after spending over 20 years working in hospitality. Restaurant ownership was in his blood. His father owned restaurants and ice cream shops, and he always carried that passion with him. He wanted to preserve what Fenicci’s already was, not change it.

Kveta:

For Phil, it was never just about owning a restaurant. It was about continuing a legacy and building something meaningful for the community and for our family.

Melissa:

The most significant moment was my dad passing in March 2025. Everything changed overnight. I was living in New Jersey at the time, but I semi-relocated back to Hershey to help continue what he built.

Kveta:

That moment brought our family together in the strongest way. Out of something incredibly painful, something beautiful grew. We united around one goal: continuing the legacy of Fenicci’s for the community and for our family.

Melissa:

The community. Seeing how much my dad gave to this town, especially during COVID and through supporting local sports and small businesses, and then watching the community give that love back to our family after his passing has been our greatest motivation.

Kveta:

We are also driven by showing what women in business can do. We want other women to see that it is possible to be leaders, business owners, and mothers, even in the hardest moments of life.

Melissa:

Family, community, and tradition.

Kveta:

And giving more than receiving. Fenicci’s has always been about sharing our blessings and lifting others up.

Melissa:

Learning how to run the business without my dad has been tricky. We feel him here every day, but we are not him. Leading in our own way has been one of the hardest challenges we have faced.

Kveta:

We overcame it by leaning on each other, trusting ourselves, and allowing the business to grow into a reflection of who we are now, not just who Phil was.

Melissa:

Do not be intimidated. Everything can be figured out. Ask for help, believe in yourself, and lean on your community.

Kveta:

Build the right circle of people, trust your instincts, and never be afraid to learn as you go.

Melissa:

Our guiding principle has always been to keep the heart of Fenicci’s alive. Preserve the history, protect the tradition, and serve people with love.

Kveta:

We live by the idea of giving more than receiving. If you lead with that, everything else follows.

Melissa: 

We support many of the local sports teams, donate food, provide gift cards, and sponsor events. We also support small mom-and-pop businesses and, very frequently, food banks.

Kveta: 

We also work closely with local artists, the Hershey Symphony, music venues, and theaters. Anything that strengthens the Hershey community matters to us.

Melissa:

Right out of college, I worked for the United Nations running international election campaigns and events!

Kveta:

My master’s degree is in therapy. I use it constantly in this business, whether it is with staff, customers, or just helping our team navigate hard days.