Chef Mike Martorelli said production companies filming movies in Pinellas County saved him from going out of business by hiring him as their exclusive caterer.  

What You Need To Know

  • Chef Mike Martorelli will cater 6 out of 10 movies shot in Pinellas

  • He said he's proof production companies can save local jobs

  • Martorelli leases kitchen space in Pinellas Park to fill orders

  • More Pinellas County headlines

"They saved my business," said Chef Martorelli, 49. "I'm so grateful for that. I really am."

Martorelli said ​he poured his life savings into a restaurant called Slamwich, which he opened last October, in the kitchen of a Largo bar that he leased. The chef said business grew every month, but it wasn't enough to keep the restaurant open. 

"I made a decision to close, unfortunately," he said. "Hardest decision ever." 

Martorelli said shortly before he closed on March 3, he was approached by unit production manager Virginia Bryant, who asked him to cater some film shoots.

"She told me she would give me the final eight days of the movie shoot," he said. "I stayed on at the kitchen. Finished it out, and it exploded from there."

To fill his new catering orders, Martorelli left the bar and leased some commercial kitchen space in Pinellas Park. Bryant said her boss, producer Danny Roth with RNR Media, initially did not want a sole caterer but changed his mind after she snuck Martorelli's food onto the set for a few days.

"It's beyond pretty good. It's like restaurant food," she said. "I'm just blessed that I was able to meet Mike and the circumstances that I did and kept him in business."

RNR Media has partnered with Dolphin Tell Productions, owned by former Clearwater Aquarium CEO David Yates, to film 10 movies in Pinellas County from last October through June. Yates said the Pinellas film incentive program played a big role in getting the movies shot locally.

Bryant said Chef Martorelli will end up catering 6 of those 10 movies.

"He did 'Love's Playlist,' 'Baked With A Kiss,' 'Pet Detectives,' (and) 'The Plus One,' she said. "Now we're doing 'Soulmate Search' and then he'll be doing 'Opposites Attract.'

Martorelli said he's proof that luring production companies to the area can save and create jobs.

"Never thought I would be in a position where I was going to lose a business or be saved at the very last minute by Hollywood," he said. "They are all about working with local businesses. If I was in charge of a town, I'd welcome them anytime."