Busy, and loving it: Nick Coniglio embraces family, business and Palm Beach life
Editor's note: This is part of an occasional series about Palm Beach life.
The daily life of longtime Palm Beacher Nicholas “Nick” Coniglio might seem exhausting, but it does his heart good in many ways.
After a predawn workout and exercising (paddle-boarding, say), he spends his day running his businesses followed by after-school sports coaching or other activities involving his five children.
Gab-filled dinners with the kids and his wife Carissa (a Palm Beach native and real estate agent with Tina Fanjul Associates) lead to homework time and lights out before Coniglio is up again at his usual 4-ish a.m.
Now add on his charitable pursuits and civic involvement, not to mention travel, including upcoming adventures in Costa Rica and North Carolina mountains with Carissa and the kids: Nicholas, 13; Frank, 11; Andres, 9; Catarina, 6; and Maria, 5. The family already has taken one trip this summer to the Bahamas to fish and dive, and others are planned for July.
How does Coniglio do it all? “My life revolves around my family and health and I work hard and play hard and try to always give back,” Coniglio, a 40-year Palm Beach resident, told the Daily News. “This is how I’m living my dreams and feeling blessed.”
Coniglio, 45, is surrounded by family on the island or nearby, including his mom — longtime public servant and former Palm Beach Mayor Gail Coniglio — and his six siblings. Carissa’s parents and siblings also are here.
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Along with managing his family’s real-estate holdings, Coniglio is partner/operator of E.R. Bradley’s Saloon in West Palm Beach and co-founder of Cucina in Palm Beach, plus 123 Datura Bar & Grill and Four Nightclub in West Palm Beach.
His latest venture, he explained, is the coming-soon semi-private Cove Club in the waterfront Icon Marina Village in West Palm Beach.
The Florida State University graduate chairs the town’s Recreation Advisory Commission; is board chairman of Rosarian Academy; and serves on his alma mater’s advisory board at Cardinal Newman High School.
The Daily News recently caught up with Coniglio:
What three things should people know about you?
My day starts with the word "OTHERS" in my calendar as a reminder to put others before myself; to give back and to focus on relationships. I feel strongly that fostering those relationships is the key to happiness, success and a life well-lived.
I do one activity in the outdoors (preferably with my kids, workout bros or close friends) every day and I always take a deep breath thanking God for my health and this beautiful life.
I love to eat at home. I have a home-cooked meal at least five nights a week surrounded by my family. Before dinner we pray together, then each person tells us their best and worst part of the day. We learn, laugh and problem-solve together as a unit.
What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned as a dad to five kids?
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Life is not about you anymore. It is the greatest transition from selfish to selfless. Nothing makes me happier than to give the kids all the life experiences and more that I was able to enjoy.
We have a few sayings within our family household: First, “Take care” of one another; second, always “Keep it tight”; third, “When one Coniglio wins, we all win and we share their stoke.” This teamwork is our greatest gift to each other.
Finally, as the kids have gotten a little older, the team gets stronger. Carissa and I have come to realize that our children are our five best friends.
Your days begin before dawn with workouts/sporting activities, followed by work and parenting. When/how do you and Carissa do date nights?
Our big secret is that we steal away during the day while the kids are at school for lunch dates and long beach walks. We also are intentional to schedule “us” time. It’s just us or sometimes in big groups surrounded by new and old friends. We both love fun concert nights and big nights out, but our daily quiet-time dates suit us just the same.
Your mom is a well-known public servant and your late father was a beloved businessman and real estate investor. What have you learned from them?
I’ve been blessed to have two of the greatest role models of all time and have taken pages out of both of their life’s playbooks. I have followed in my mother’s oversized civic footsteps by giving back to the community, which has given us so much. Chairing the recreation commission over the last seven years, currently chairing the Rosarian (Academy) board and serving on Cardinal Newman’s advisory board have been a great foray into giving back … and carrying on my mother’s great legacy.
It was also my honor and privilege to work beside my father, best friend and partner for 20 years and carry on his lifework in the restaurant industry and growing real estate portfolio. My mother and father both shared similar values in different arenas and I try to stick with the same principles: work hard, be kind, be proactive, be disciplined, don’t react and always do the right thing.
Since you grew up in Palm Beach, there have been many changes to the island. What are its best enduring assets?
All we hear these days is how much the island has changed. The parking issues, traffic and skyrocketing housing market are a few of the current pain points that have obviously been compounded in the last four years.
For me, however, I believe our surprise growth spurt is a blessing and I am forever grateful for the newfound business and fresh perspective. In many ways, the last few years are a great awakening and our sleepy beach town has finally arrived.
Our local little island life is still here right under your noses. The secrets are in the fresh salt air and sun in your hair on the beach. Boating, kite surfing, paddling, belly-surfing on the ocean or fishing snook and tarpon on the Intracoastal. Take a walk or ride on the bike trail. Snorkel the inlets for some underwater peace.
Enjoy all the parks and the joy of children in our community-unifier hidden gem, the Mandel Rec Center. Most important to me is to shed the jacket and tie and get shirtless and barefoot.
What’s the best Palm Beach restaurant meal you’ve eaten within the past year?
I am biased, but Cucina has to be at the top of the list. My partner and chef of 15 years, Kent Thurston, cooks and flies quietly under the radar without the accolades he deserves. Carissa and I love our monthly 6 p.m. walk to Cucina for an Italian dinner.
That all being said, if I had to choose one meal from all the amazing meals that I have had, it would have to be at Imoto. This year, Carissa and I had the most special just-us night out. Sitting at the back sushi bar, letting the incredible staff just create for us over two hours, and visiting with (Imoto co-owner) Piper (Quinn) and (general manager) Brad (Stapleton) is as Palm Beach perfection as it gets.
Where’s your favorite place to shop in Palm Beach and why?
Palm Beach Boys Club/Aristokids has been our local everything shop since I could bike there as a young kid. We all still go to hang with (owners) Rick (Wentley), Jodi (Wentley) and Jamie (Applefield) and shopping is just an amazing byproduct.
You go to kick back and listen to some Grateful Dead, catch up on family and friends, and of course sprinkle in a little local gossip. You can find something for the whole family.
Truth be told, I am not a shopper. I will, however, indulge in the finer things here and there. I do love a good pair of Stubbs [and Wootton slippers]. I have been known to like a good cigar and I did just shop at another great addition to the town at the Churchill cigar shop.
Best way to spend a Sunday in Palm Beach?
(It would start with) a solo sunrise ocean paddle or ocean kayak to the inlet and back. Then, making a crusty salmon bagel breakfast with the kids, followed by a golf-cart ride to church at St. Edward.
Then quickly shed the clothes and into bathing suits for family reggae tunes and backyard activities. Sunny bike-trail rides to the inlet, followed by a dip and drink poolside at the Sailfish Club. Maybe a nap on the couch, snoozing in and out of a Dolphins game.
Then, finishing the day off with our Italian family traditions: pasta dinner at my mom’s, surrounded by our crazy extended cousins and margaritas or red wine.
Island life at its best. Does it get any better?
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Restaurateur Nick Coniglio celebrates busy Palm Beach life of family, commerce
