Joseph Maurillo was born and raised in Nutley, New Jersey. Part of a close-knit family, Joe followed in his father Nicholas’s footsteps, making the community an important part of his life and career. Nicholas Maurillo was the proprietor of J&N Amoco on Franklin Avenue for over fifty years and was exceedingly involved in the community.
Joe began helping his Dad run the family business as a teenager and soon began looking for other business opportunities to secure his future. His first business venture was in 1989. So began The Hop themed restaurants and nightclubs. Four locations and many successful years later, he decided to diversify his focus and concentrate on the catering end of the business. In 1995, Joe and his brother opened up the renowned Crystals Caterers and Nightclub in Lyndhurst with their current partner, Vito Cucci, also of Nutley.
Today, Joe is one of the proud owners and operators of Nanina’s In the Park of Belleville. Nanina’s continues to uphold the stellar catering reputation it has earned for over fifty years. When the partners took over the facility, they embarked on a multimillion-dollar renovation that has made Nanina’s In the Park a New Jersey landmark and a community showpiece. After the success of Nanina’s in The Park, the partners entered into a new business venture with Nanina’s Gourmet Pasta Sauces. The wide variety of sauces are all available in supermarkets throughout the tri-state area. Joe and his partners undertook a multimillion-dollar renovation of The Park Savoy Estate and with their collective expertise, Nanina’s In the Park and the Park Savoy Estate have become some of the most prominent catering facilities in the tri-state area.
Joe Maurillo is also the President of IMAC Insurance Agency of Belleville and works with both public and private sector clients to satisfy all their insurance needs. Joe also makes time to serve the community that has been so good to him and his family. He is a board member of The Garden State Cancer Center and Charter member of the Fairfield UNICO Chapter. Joe is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Nutley Elks, the Third Half Club, and Belleville Education Foundation. Some of his most notable honors are the 2007 Columbus Day Parade Business Man of The Year, 2007 UNICO Man of The Year, 2008 Catholic Charities Humanitarian of The Year, Essex County Chiefs of Police Distinguished Service Award, Italian Tribune’s La Famiglia Award, Belleville Italian American Civic Association Award for Leadership, 2008 New Jersey State P.B.A. silver card lifetime member, 2008 Kevin G. Kennedy Civic Association Humanitarian of The Year Award, the 2012 Man of the Year from the Italian American Club, 2013 Essex County Italian Heritage – Stars of Essex Award, the 2013 John V. Kelly Memorial Foundation Humanitarian of the Year, and the 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year from the East Hanover Italian American Club.
Joe has been married for 30 years to his wife Gail, and they have two beautiful daughters, Gianna 23, and Natalia 22. Second, only to his wife and children, Joe’s pride and joy is the non-profit foundation that he has founded and also heads, The Cheer Me Up Foundation. Supported by family, friends, and volunteers, Cheer Me Up was created to ensure that our community’s sick and impoverished children will always experience their fundamental right; the joy of being children. This organization has grown by leaps and bounds over the years and has reached thousands of handicapped and needy children. The Maurillo families, husbands, wives, children and even grandparents are hands-on in the planning and execution of all the foundation’s events. The Cheer Me Up Foundation touches the lives of over 3,000 children annually. The Cheer Me Up Foundation raised in 2012 over $185,000 for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
Whether it’s catering, insurance or charitable endeavors, Joe Maurillo encompasses the professionalism, experience, and personal care that reflect his family values, as well as his pride and dedication in the community that he has prospered in and continues to serve.
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