The LaGrottes serve as a snapshot of how a striving family can take a single idea and turn it into an enterprise in just a few generations. In their case, quite literally – as a humble Downtown Indianapolis grocer eventually became LaGrotte Enterprises with multiple properties and businesses.
The iconic Milano Inn, a staple in the Holy Rosary-Danish Church Historic District since 1934, serves as their crown jewel and flagship. The LaGrottes didn’t establish the Italian restaurant on South College Avenue – that was another family, the Madaffaris. But they’ve owned and operated it for the past 35 years, carrying on the same welcoming traditions and authentic cuisine that first attracted working-class immigrant families during the Great Depression and post-war boom.
Sisters Gina and Tina LaGrotte, the third generation and current leadership, began their apprenticeship at Angelo’s, the grocery store right next to the Milano Inn owned by their grandfather. After school they would stock shelves, work the register, etc.
“That’s primarily where we began, working as kids while learning how to run a business,” Gina said.
Their father Leo Michael assembled other operations to support the existing ones, such as a meat processing plant to supply the Milano Inn and Angelo’s with fresh product. Other non-related businesses were added over the years as opportunities presented themselves, such as a hair salon.
Eventually, LaGrotte Enterprises owned most of the block surrounding the Milano Inn. As nearby neighborhoods like Fountain Square to the south and Lockerbie Square to the north became hot properties, their company’s reputation flourished.
But change requires adapting to the times. When their father grew ill and could no longer manage their growing empire – which by then included the Village Plaza retail strip center on south Meridian – Gina and her sister made the decision to pull back. Some businesses were sold off, including the hair salon to a family friend and the meat plant. Leo Michael passed away in 2007.
Now LaGrotte Enterprises is looking beyond building businesses to helping build up an entire neighborhood. They recently acquired a nearby paint store, and sold nearly three acres of land across the street from the Milano Inn to a developer who is planning to construct chic apartments.
Why just settle for bringing customers to your business, they figure, when you can turn them into neighbors?
“It will do nothing but help the Milano Inn and other businesses. We’re looking forward to creating more of a neighborhood feel,” Gina said. “This quadrant, Fountain Square and our area, is growing like crazy. It’s close to Downtown and has easy access to the interstate. We’re thinking more people will move into the neighborhood and it will just get better and better.”
As part of their ambitious plans, LaGrotte Enterprises hired Sponsel CPA Group about a year ago to help provide the vision and financial strategy. Gina she has felt very comfortable working with the Sponsel team, including Tom Sponsel and Nick Hopkins. Beyond standard CPA functions, she said they have helped with strategic planning, coaching and educating some of their key leaders.
“They’ve done a lot of work for us, and gone above and beyond what we would have expected them to do on a professional scale, and also on a personal scale,” she said. “They’ve been crucial in helping us with streamlining our businesses and making sure Tina and I are making sound decisions as to financing in the family business.”
