08/16/2023
Hi PGCC family, since things happened last week and with the way they have played out, I have made a difficult decision to not be reaching out to the members there with regards to the current situation. However, now that things have somehow made their way to The Perry News for an article to be tossed together so aimlessly it seems, I feel a need for a message to all of the people I love at PGCC.
From the moment I stepped onto that property, something happened for me, something just clicked in my soul. It was home for me, from that moment on, I have always sought after the bar and restaurant space in your Clubhouse. The reason for wanting to open my own bar and restaurant is quite simple, it's been my longest sought after and achieved goal in my life for I love sharing food experiences with others. However, the reason I sought after that space specifically and the reason I continued to go thru the wringer to even sign a contract to be there, was because of all of you! (And I mean that in the best way possible)
This last week has drug on for me like you wouldn't believe. There has been lots of tears, lots of work, and lots of good memories there have come up. However, much sadness is being had, I must say.
Not just by me, but my entire team. They all fell in love with you too and have been put thru their own turmoil because of a few decisions a group of people made, along with a few I made along the way. Although, I do not regret any of my choices made as the owner of Sambino's, I am terribly sorry that any of those decisions made by others, have trickled their way down to anyone else....and I know they have.
I owe a lot of thanks and appreciation to my team, for some were there as I was forced out of my restaurant and helped grab what I could in the short time given to me. Some were there working when the show went on display during my busiest night of the week, with such obvious intentions. All have lost an income of which I am responsible for. All have continued to be a huge support for the business and myself as an individual. When the facts were laid out to my staff, they all have chosen to have my back, no matter how I decided to go forward. I owe them a lot!
Know that I am doing exactly what I have always said I would from the beginning. I refuse to go into any kind of detail as far as what "my side of the story" is, for several reasons. However, please know that I'm still fighting, yes, even when you can't see my smiling face when you walk into the Clubhouse. I'm still trying to make sure things are being done properly, the correct way and with respect and class; which I can not say I have received too many times in my situation. Know that I'm still here, wanting to be there.
But I do want to be clear, what happened to my business and still is happening to my business as each day comes and goes, your clubhouse, my team; all was done improperly, unprofessionally, and in several instances illegally.
If you are and have been a genuine supporter of me being out there, please hear this if you only hear one thing, if you are weary of this situation in a manner of looking negatively on me now, please know that I completely respect that. See, you are only being given bits and pieces of one side of this situation so far, for the most part anyways. One day, all of the other things that you aren't so conveniently receiving a mass email on, will eventually come out thru this next process. And it won't be me needing to say things, it will be in black in white proof of these things taking place to which I'm referring to and I hope that you listen with purpose when that happens. I really hope there's some really good outcomes from all of this once it's said and done.
I am in no way "fighting" against my business partner, what I am doing is simply fighting against a barrier that seems to continue to be a major roadblock for my company from before the beginning. A roadblock to what should be, both parties' desired end result(s).
I look forward to one day being able to serve you all again, in some type of format. My team and I are eager to get back to our business and to you all, of course and hope that you all are doing well.
We love you and miss you all so much!
Sambino's Hospitality Group, LLC
Samantha Villanueva, owner/operator
