Meet Francesco Zimone | Owner Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Francesco Zimone and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Francesco, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
As an Italian born, I was missing the inclusion and the magic you would feel when you meet with your family and friends in places that give you that feeling of familiarity. So, I decided I was going to build one. I needed something secluded that would transport you away from reality. A backyard, a piazza, somewhere you would let yourself go, immersed in the experience, transported by the overall energy. Our place in Hollywood provided me with all that.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I don’t think anything in particular sets me apart from others. I genuinely love life and people. My goal is to always get the best out of me and others in every moment. Which means also get the best out of difficult times. When I found the space in Hollywood, things got real, The dreamy-filled part of the venture became only one side of the project. Budgeting, financing and going through the hoops of bureaucracy showed me that it’s easy to lose vision of your dream. Things get blurry easily, stress takes over. I think a true artist is the one that is capable of maintaining the calm, understanding that biggest is the achievement and hardest will be the difficulties to reach it. The growth and learning process are the only way to maintain intact that genuine dream you saw before everything else happened. And the only way to bring it to completion.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Throughout the years, my best friends have come to visit. I think LA immediately grounds you with its beauty and nature. From hike trails revealing the latitude of the city, to beaches and canyons, I have always taken friends around showing them cool places. From Busto and Sun, a hat maker in Topanga, to fresh fish in Malibu, to breakfast in Venice, and evenings in West Hollywood. LA is also known for more intimate house parties. Which I wanted to recreate with our space.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Heroes stories are gorgeous, but may tend to highlight the gesture of a single. This is the story of a group with a team leader. I had the pleasure and fortune to convince two childhood best friends, Lucio and Diego in my idea to create a place that would provide people with an emotionally powerful and satisfying experience. Along the way, I met a few more key people, Matteo, Greg, Michele and brother Antonio that helped me shape the project. At that point, all we needed was the “audience”. Which has been the most satisfying experience. The love of people is like a magic rug underneath your feet. God bless our friends.

Website: Www.damicheleusa.com

Instagram: IG:damichelela

Linkedin: Francesco Zimone

Facebook: L’antica pizzeria da Michele Los Angeles

Yelp: L’antica pizzeria da Michele Los Angeles

Image Credits
Chef Michele Rubini Chef Antonio Giordano