The Road Less Traveled- Leads to the Home Best Built

--by Paige DeFaith, Courtesy of Berks County LIving

No one in Berks County is better at choosing the road less traveled and knowing it has made all the difference than Fiorino “Fred” Grande of Grande Construction.

Fred followed his father’s advice and his footsteps to elevate the family-owned business into a well-written Grande story with a prosperous future for generations to come, through hard work, long hours, and constant improvement.

Fred’s father, Antonio (Tony), came to America from Calabria, Italy in 1968. Settling on Franklin Street in Reading, Tony and his brothers worked as laborers mastering the skills of construction from the bottom up, sweat included. They were not concerned with their modest $1.25 an hour pay. Instead, they enjoyed the value of learning about a family business, one they would continue to grow through the years. After earning enough money to buy some land, the five brothers formed the first Grande crew.

In 1972, Tony Grande & Sons Construction began building the 35 home Singer Road development in Colony Park, purchased by Henry Singer. In 1980 Fred and his wife, Carmen, took over the family business. Integrating his father’s work ethic and life lessons with his natural innovation, Fred took the helm and just kept building. He started with Colony Springs development in Wyomissing, and from there he followed every road less traveled to build a community. Working 14 hour days, driving daily to all work sites, and remaining committed to superior construction and artisanship, Fred has delivered a quality Grande home to more than 4000 families. Operating daily at this level of passion and dedication, Grande Construction doesn't build houses, they create homes.

Continuing Progress After more than a dozen development projects, you would think the company would show signs of slowing down.

Apparently, there is no slow lane on the road less traveled, and certainly not in the Grande world. Married for more than 35 years, Fred and Carmen Grande have five talented and hard-working children who are gearing up to play a more active role in their family’s legacy. Having worked next to their parents, building the Grande brand, they are now transitioning into company leadership roles. Grand, or should we say Grande ideas naturally accompany them to extend the already strong family brand. With Antonio (Tony) serving as Vice-President, Gianfranco (John) as Project Manager/Owner, Sabrina and husband Michele (Michael) Cirandine managing Russo Gourmet Foods and Market, Laura performing in dual roles - Marketing and Controller, and Fabrizio serving as Project Manager/Owner it is apparent this big family has big plans.

In March 2007, they had their Grand opening of Russo Gourmet Foods and Market in Wyomissing, managed by Sabrina, husband Michael, and Carmen Grande. A visit to Russo will get your senses in an uproar and your cookbook out of the closet. Providing the largest selection of exclusive international imports, this spacious, regional gourmet food market is filled with every imaginable ingredient for a food lover’s palette. Enjoy an Italian pastry and a cappuccino in their market café and bring a friend, the café seats 20.

At Grande Construction, Tony, Gian, and Fabrizio Grande are continuing the family-run business with the same high standards Berks County has come to expect and appreciate from their father, Fred. Tony is not a novice though. For 13 years Tony has been with the company earning top awards in every category from the Berks County Home Builder’s Association for the Parade of Homes. Winning the best of show ten times only drives Tony to work harder and not rest on his laurels – a true testament of a champion. For Gian and Laura it is a long awaited homecoming. Gian studied architecture and Laura marketing. Now they can finally apply it where it matters most, in the family business. Fabrizio studies his brother Tony, with the intention of applying the same drive and professional engagement to his own work.

Designing Success Grande Construction may have grown over the years, but they never stopped listening to their customers.

Fred Grande understands the overwhelming process of building a home, and in an effort to assist homeowners, created the Design Center in West Lawn — a one point source for all services. Housed within the Grande Plaza II building are Prudential Commonwealth Realtor representatives, Edge Abstract title company, a company engineer, a company designer, and a complete design center, along with constant visits from Marlene Schwoyer of Fulton Bank.

The design center alone convinces you that every feature matters in a Grande home. From the moment you enter the center you see, feel and sense all the materials that will complete your long awaited dream. Like a child in a candy store, home buyers can mix and match the afternoon away, selecting everything from a coat of paint, to lighting fixtures, to the exterior stone facade and trim. Before they leave the Grande Plaza II their dream is now a tangible vision put into motion, complete with details, and the team that can turn it into reality.

With thousands of lots in inventory, Grande Construction will continue building dreams for Berks County residents. Future developments starting within the next two years include: Cedar Hill in Birdsboro, Peach Mountain in Schuylkill Haven, Estates of Briarwood and Estates of Sutherland, both in Longswamp Township. If building a new home is your dream, don’t dream big, dream Grande. Take a journey down that road less traveled and experience the difference that started with five brothers and now continues with the five Grande children. You will enjoy the array of diversified family talent and the assurance that comes with years of building things well. And remember, you’re always invited to stop by for a visit at Russo Gourmet Foods and Market and grab a cup of cappuccino for the ride home.