Born and raised as an American Sicilian in Greensboro, North Carolina, Giuseppe Giaimo’s family owned and operated an Italian restaurant for many years. Many of his first lessons in running a restaurant took place there. As he grew older, stories his father told him about his grandfather’s military days always remained in his mind and his fascination with the military broadened. He decided to attend Oak Ridge Military Academy for his middle and high school years, and to this day he accredits Oak Ridge for who he is today.
After high school, he attended East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina and studied Hospitality Management with a minor in Business. Little did he know he was not only leaving with a degree, but also with his future wife. He was able to graduate in three short years, as he was eager to dive into his career. His first job out of college was a Manager at an independent hotel located in Greensboro, however, after speaking with a former McDonald’s Corporation manager, his interest in this fast food business blossomed.
In 2008, he transitioned into a position with McDonald’s Corporation in Raleigh, NC as a Second Assistant and quickly adapted to the business. He rose to the position of General Manager after one year and remained so for two and a half years. He was then given the opportunity to open a new Corporate store, as the General Manager.
Giuseppe later moved to Washington, D.C. to work for his father in law, an Owner/Operator of McDonald’s in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. In 2015, he became an Owner/Operator and purchased his first McDonald’s restaurant inside the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. In 2018, he sold the Pentagon McDonald’s, as he received an opportunity to purchase restaurants in Hampton and Newport News, Virginia, where he currently owns and operates today.
Through his triumphs and struggles, he has learned his strengths and weaknesses with the many experiences and opportunities he has had. He will continue to learn and build on his foundation because as he always says, “I am a dry sponge thirsting for water.”
