Mixing business with pleasure

They don't run their restaurant from a top floor of a skyscraper. Nearly any day of the week you'll find Mark Girardin and Brandon Ubelhor in the trenches of their Italian bistro, piling toppings high atop a made-to-order pizza pie and tossing chicken wings in their special hot sauce.

“I consider this my retirement,"Girardin said. "I left the rat race for the human race.” 

Girardin and his partner Ubelhor purchased Castrillo’s Pizza, located at 1404 McGavock Pike, in East Nashville, this past February. The men had been studying local business and franchise opportunities for about a year when they discovered that Castrillo's was for sale only a couple of miles from their home.

Girardin’s was looking for a ticket out of a lengthy IT career. Ubelhor had extensive experience in kitchen management, handling and catering. Upon hearing the news that Castrillo's was up for sale, Girardin and Ubelhor immediately considered the purchase and closed on the deal only a few months later.

The partners refer to their restaurant as an ‘Italian bistro’ because its menu fare extends far beyond pizza. Castrillo's now offers buffalo wings in varying degress of spiciness, feta cheese bread and a vast selection of pasta dishes. Giardin said pizza accounts for about 50 percent of sales. Some of the restaurant's regulars tend to order subs and pasta dishes at the beginning of the week, and pizza on Fridays, sampling from each part of the menu, Giardin said.

What makes Castrillo's pizza distinct lies beneath the toppings.

"When Mark and I first tasted the pizza crust we knew we had some kind of anchor," Ubelhor said. "Everything is fresh and we actually toss our dough.”

Castrillo's is a take-out and delivery restaurant, but patrons who want to dine-in are able to utlilize a beautifully landscaped, gated courtyard ajdacent the bistro. With nighttime lighting and daytime shade the area is perfect for anytime dining. Castrillo's delivers free of charge within three to five miles of the restaurant and offers out-of-area delivery on orders of more than $100.

Now about six months in, the couple is already planning to expand the Castrillo's and open up to five restaurants in other areas of Nashville.

Girardin plans to utilize his background in IT operations to streamline and document the restaurant’s processes, allowing for a future manager to take over the East Nashville store as other stores emerge. He estimates the second store will open in the next 12 to 18 months at an undetermined location.

“The previous owners did a great job of marketing and building the business," Girardin said. "They worked 24/7 to position for the restaurant’s future sale." 

Laura Filian, a cashier at Castrillo's, said Girardin and Ubelhor have elicited an atmosphere of unity among their staff of ten and she often visits the restaurant on her days off. They offer employee morale boosting ‘pajama days’ and ‘Hawaiian days,’ when employees are encouraged to dress the part. 

“I love it here," Filian said. "Mark and Brandon have created a relaxed family atmosphere and our staff truly operates as one big team.”


Castrillo’s Pizza

1404 McGavock Pike

Nashville, TN 37216

Visit www.castrillos.com to view the full menu and daily specials.

WhistlePig + Alfa Romeo F1

SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.

The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.

Keep readingShow less
by Spectrum Medical Care Center

Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz

When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.

I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.

Keep readingShow less

Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area

Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!

Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.

Keep readingShow less