Custino's

[Tydude]

the first owner has the right of his name to use on his restaurant i don't know if Phill can use it on his restaurant

[bluedogok]

Now I am confused...who owns the right to the Custinos name now? Sounded like the court ruled the other guys have it. Presume that would mean that Phil & Son can no longer use it as folks are going to be getting the places confused. Remember the folks that had Laredo's on 63rd? They got bought up by Chesapeake, took a decade or more to get the location reopened at Belle Isle and in the meantime another Mexican place acquired the use of the name in the nearby Cantina Laredo's. They settled and ended up changing the name of the new place even though they had the name 1st.

I know that Cantina Laredo is a national chain, is that the one that opened up? I believe that Cantina Laredo existed in Dallas before Laredo's on 63rd & Classen opened up. I know that when Chief Auto Parts came into OKC they had to change the name to Endurance because Chief had been around for many, many years on South Robinson and they wouldn't sell the name to the Southland Corporation (owner of Chief/Endurance). There has been a similar issue with the Indianapolis based Texas Roadhouse chain in Texas, they sued places that had some combination of Texas Roadhouse in their name because they registered the trademark even though they are a mid-level steak place and not the small, local, real Texas roadhouses that they copied the name from but not the theme. I still think a place that has had the name in state for many years should have the right over an out-of-state corporation can claim it. Ultimately to me "Texas roadhouse" is too generic of a term to claim a trademark on.

There is a similar battle going on here in Denver between a brother and sister over the Pasquini's Pizza name.
Denver Post - Family members feud over control of Denver's Pasquini's Pizza
Denver Business Journal - Pasquini's Pizza siblings in legal battle

[okcbigeater]

In today's Oklahoman:

• Custino's conundrum: Bud Elder and his family went to court to maintain sole ownership of Custino's Italian Kitchen, 2724 W Britton Road, and the rights to the name. Elder and family are working hard to make this venture successful in the wake of the public airing of their dispute with former partner and friend Phil Custino and his son, Angelo.

Despite the court's ruling against them, Angelo and Phil appear determined to compete with their former partner. The Custinos apparently have signed a lease in the space formerly occupied by Divine Swine, 7801 N May Ave., footsteps from the original Custino's from the early 1990s, and plan to open Custino's Restaurant and Bar.

Read more: Green Chile Kitchen is coming to Yukon | NewsOK.com

[okcbigeater]

I have done a little bit of research the past few hours, I came across the following pages to keep up to date on the information going on with Custino's Restaurant & Bar which is the new business that Dave Cathey from NewsOK.com/the oklahoman reported about in yesterdays paper.

Custino's Restaurant & Bar Facebook Page: Custino's Restaurant & Bar - Oklahoma City, OK - Fine Dining Restaurant, Italian Restaurant | Facebook

Custino's Restaurant & Bar Group Page: Log In | Facebook

Custino's Restaurant & Bar Twitter Page: Custino's Restaurant (Custinos) on Twitter

I will continue to do some digging and see what else I can find about this

[TechArch]

I hope they do well in the old Divine Swine location. That spot has been a black hole for restaurants. I can remember at least 4 restaurants that have been there in the last 4 years.

[Steve]

I have done a little bit of research the past few hours, I came across the following pages to keep up to date on the information going on with Custino's Restaurant & Bar which is the new business that Dave Cathey from NewsOK.com/the oklahoman reported about in yesterdays paper.

Custino's Restaurant & Bar Facebook Page: Custino's Restaurant & Bar - Oklahoma City, OK - Fine Dining Restaurant, Italian Restaurant | Facebook

Custino's Restaurant & Bar Group Page: Log In | Facebook

Custino's Restaurant & Bar Twitter Page: Custino's Restaurant (Custinos) on Twitter

I will continue to do some digging and see what else I can find about this

OKC Big Eater, aren't you involved with the new Custino's restaurant?

[CaptDave]

OKC Big Eater, aren't you involved with the new Custino's restaurant?

No way! Say it isn't so Steve!

Glad I wasn't the only one who thought that out loud.

[okcbigeater]

Steve,

I am just a big fan of Custino's. I joined OKCTalk a few months ago when I noticed people were starting to talk about them again so I could stay in the loop and voice my opinions. I'd like to know where most of your sources come from because a lot of it doesn't match what they are saying. I am not in communication with the Custino's but receive updates from them through their multiple media outlets.

[Martin]

okcbigeater,

despite the claim that you are just a fan of custino's, your registration information appears to indicate that you are connected in some way to the brand. it's ok if you are or have been involved with custino's... we don't have a problem with local businesses promoting themselves on okctalk. however, i think it's important that people know that a poster is connected with a business that is being discussed.

-M

[LakeEffect]

The internet isn't as anonymous as people think it is.

[okcbigeater]

I dont think so. If you have registration information to support you claim i would love to know about it. My only tie to the brand is I submitted an application for employment because i would much rather work for them than my current employer.

[angelocustino]

Hey Everyone,

This is Angelo Custino. Son of Chef Phil Custino, former 50% owner of Custino's Italian Kitchen, and owner of Custino's Restaurant & Bar. I am very flattered by some of the things I have read on here, but also saw there were a few posts that obviously came about "through the grape vine." If you have any questions about Custino's the source is now on okctalk. I am a retired actor and independent food broker as well as restauranteur. I made it to Hollywood and West Palm Beach to realize there is no place like home, good ol' Oklahoma. I am happy to answer any questions to the best of my ability considering this thread has to do with the Custino's, our brand, and my business.

[CaptDave]

Welcome Angelo. Nice to get information about a business from the owner. I don't pretend to know anything about the goings on with Custino's (old or new), but I wish you luck on your new venture.

[Tydude]

We all know that you were the 50 percent owners so just move on and good luck in your restaurant

[angelocustino]

I don't mean to beat a dead horse but the newspaper article a few days ago insinuated that my father was a partner in the business, he was a chef and consultant. I am sure it was just the wording and by no means anything sly on the part of Dave Cathey, but I wanted to set the record straight as it seems that even your wording "owners" insinuates as well. There was 1 50% owner and 2 25% owners. My father was none of the above.

[Steve]

Custino's return is truly triumphant | NewsOK.com

[Dubya61]

I need a program. Is the Custino's Family Kitchen (from the review in post 166) the one that was (is?) a partnership with Bud Elder? Is the Custino's Restaurant and Bar (referenced in post 147) a different entity? Which one is Phil and Angelo Custino involved in? Forgive my apparent stupidity, but if someone can explain it to me (and apparently using small one-syllable words) I'd appreciate it.

[kevinpate]

I need a program. Is the Custino's Family Kitchen (from the review in post 166) the one that was (is?) a partnership with Bud Elder? Is the Custino's Restaurant and Bar (referenced in post 147) a different entity? Which one is Phil and Angelo Custino involved in? Forgive my apparent stupidity, but if someone can explain it to me (and apparently using small one-syllable words) I'd appreciate it.

CFK = formerly A Bud Elder, Angelo Custino and another partner (50/25/25 split, not clear to me who held what level (never looked). very likely in the court papers and/or old stories on the split-up) As I understand it, no one from Custino clan is still connected to CFK at this time.

CR&B = Angelo Custino, perhaps others involved, though not Mr. Elder.

Luck to all.

[Steve]

CFK was the first restaurant opened last spring. At the time, it was presented by Bud Elder and Phil Custino (according to news reports at the time) as a partnership between the them. Later, when the partnership went bad, it was revealed Phil Custino was not an owner, that his son Angelo had 50 percent ownership, and Bud and his wife each had 25 percent. It has been said by Bud Elder, and not challenged by the Custinos (at least in news accounts) that the Elders provided most or all of the capital equity. Angelo Custino, who according to his IMDB biography was 20 at the time the CFK opened last spring, is now in court against the Elders and is opening his own restaurant, CR&B, where the old Divine Swine is. The Elders so far are arguing they own the Custino's name because they paid for branding, etc. Court will ultimately decide this. According to Phil Custino, Angelo Custino trained under some of the top chefs in California. IMDB also shows he did some independent films.

[angelocustino]

It was reported at the time that my father was an owner because I watched Bud write the article that was published in The Oklahoman as well as the article for Distinctly Oklahoma Magazine. I was notified after an article was submitted to be published what their content was. The Custino name was brought back into the Oklahoma market by me and my father through Falcone's, hence the first articles published about his return. I mostly did television, lots of national and international commercials (Volvo, Hot Pockets, Coca-Cola, Six Flags, etc.). At the time I started breaking into film I decided to put my years of rigorous training to better use and helped young kids trying to break into the industry make a start while also making sure that their best interests were met avoiding the classic "stage mom." Thus I opened a business with my former manager from Rising Talent Management. I was on the forefront of the notorious writer's strike and was an active participant in the negotiations between S.A.G. (to which I belonged) and AFTRA. In response to some of the allegations against my father written by Steve, I would like to make it very clear my father was born Philip Angelo Custino, and I have the birth certificate to prove it. The case is still ongoing and it is up to the public in our glorious free market economy to decide which product best suits their interest.

[SoonerQueen]

Angelo, I love the food at Custino's, but wonder why you all had to pick a location so close to the other restaurant for your new restaurant. If it were me, I might want to start fresh maybe on the other side of town. Just sayin..

[Spartan]

Hey Everyone,

This is Angelo Custino. Son of Chef Phil Custino, former 50% owner of Custino's Italian Kitchen, and owner of Custino's Restaurant & Bar. I am very flattered by some of the things I have read on here, but also saw there were a few posts that obviously came about "through the grape vine." If you have any questions about Custino's the source is now on okctalk. I am a retired actor and independent food broker as well as restauranteur. I made it to Hollywood and West Palm Beach to realize there is no place like home, good ol' Oklahoma. I am happy to answer any questions to the best of my ability considering this thread has to do with the Custino's, our brand, and my business.

A retired actor??

This is just weird. Who is Custino and why has a dumpy fast food conversion resulted in so much drama? Food fight I guess.

This drama just sounds ridiculous.

[angelocustino]

That's a great question SoonerQueen. My father's original location was in a Taco Bell right next door. He used to dream about opening his restaurant in the (then) Pizza Hut since it had a larger kitchen and dining area. Other than fulfilling my father's nearly 20 year long dream I knew about his success next door as well as down the street at what is now Chileno's. I figured those two previous locations were a great success, my father was known for being on May Ave.(a street I spent more time on than my own block), and it would be easy for my father's old fans to go into auto-pilot and go back to the same spot they used to go to for years. It takes a lot of factors when opening a new business, one of which is managing monthly expenses to pay staff a wage they are comfortable with and ensure that the business does not go into the red in order to keep the quality consistent rather than have to make sacrifices like cheaper ingredients or raising prices. There were no locations anywhere in town that put a smile on my Dad's face when we walked in the door or were fiscally sound enough for me to be confident that we would be able to hire the best staff at a competitive wage, manage our monthly expenses, and not cheapen the products or services we provide. We are not looking to get rich off this business venture, more restaurants fail because of greed than anything else. We are looking to make a living, have our employees make a living rather than being more like indentured servants, and do what we love to do and that's make everyone who walks in the door smile like we did the first time. Our main quarrel with the previous location is using our name and serving a product under it when we are not associated with it. We wish them all the best, but will continue to pursue every action to protect our brand. If it isn't resolved in the Oklahoma court system we will take it to the Federal level. We aren't trying to take the restaurant away from them, we have our own we take great pride in.

[Steve]

It was reported at the time that my father was an owner because I watched Bud write the article that was published in The Oklahoman as well as the article for Distinctly Oklahoma Magazine. I was notified after an article was submitted to be published what their content was. The Custino name was brought back into the Oklahoma market by me and my father through Falcone's, hence the first articles published about his return. I mostly did television, lots of national and international commercials (Volvo, Hot Pockets, Coca-Cola, Six Flags, etc.). At the time I started breaking into film I decided to put my years of rigorous training to better use and helped young kids trying to break into the industry make a start while also making sure that their best interests were met avoiding the classic "stage mom." Thus I opened a business with my former manager from Rising Talent Management. I was on the forefront of the notorious writer's strike and was an active participant in the negotiations between S.A.G. (to which I belonged) and AFTRA. In response to some of the allegations against my father written by Steve, I would like to make it very clear my father was born Philip Angelo Custino, and I have the birth certificate to prove it. The case is still ongoing and it is up to the public in our glorious free market economy to decide which product best suits their interest.

I was always curious what your take was on the name question! No doubt about your film work - I've seen the castings and credits. You've done a lot in 21 years. I look forward to checking your new place out when it opens. If you'll recall, I contacted you early on when you guys first teamed up with Falcone.

[angelocustino]

I have been self employed since I was 13 years old. While I was working as an actor I also worked freelance creating fresh menu ideas for Divinity Catering in Beverly Hills which managed most of the accounts on Rodeo Dr. from Chanel to Valentino catering their private galas and new product launches as well as new brands launching in the Beverly Hills/Los Angeles marketplace. I also learned a great deal from one of Wolfgang Puck's sous chefs who worked at Spago in Beverly Hills, although now she has turned to pastries which is not a particular hobby of mine. Other than that I have been an independent food broker for several years redistributing Italian cheeses like Pecorino Romano and Parmesan as well as Olive Oil ranging from blends all the way too pure organic 100% extra virgin. Not to mention I learned a thing or two from Dad. I was also asked twice to be a contestant on the Bravo show Top Chef, but reluctantly had to decline due to my hectic schedule and not being able to step away from my current business.

My father had 3 locations from Edmond to the South Side and took the state by storm with his fresh trays of lasagna ready to-go through the drive through window to feed families with great food and great prices with never before seen convenience. Soon he began to cater events such as the National Western Heritage Museum, Remington Park, and even had Mary Fallin (then Lt. Governor) personally serve his lasagna at the state capital boasting he had the best Italian food in Oklahoma City. Soon he managed to take the supermarkets by storm putting his Ziti Lasagna on the shelves at such retailers as Super Walmart, Sam's, and Albertson's as a new product developer.

That's who we are.