La Donna H.

La Donna grew up in Chicago, spent two years in Los Angeles, and then returned to Chicago. During her career, she worked as an airline ramp agent, where she loaded planes and taxied them in and out of terminals. Before joining Eataly, La Donna she spent 20 years in retail  as a personal shopper at a major retailer, helping clients from all over the world and creating partnerships with non-profit organizations.

In 2022, La Donna began at Eataly Chicago as a Front End Sales Associate. Since the start, she has consistently gone above and beyond to enhance all interactions and make a lasting impact on everyone she meets. For example, with our regular customers, she has taken the initiative to learn their names and makes sure to always greet them by name.

The team knows La Donna as a caring, thoughtful, and generous person. She readily lends a helping hand, and she understands the importance of teamwork and communication. La Donna keeps her team on track with what is going on and what is coming up, for which we all appreciate and admire her.

What is your favorite part of your role?
“Seeing the smile on guests’ faces makes me smile. I remember a time when an Italian family came in and saw a brand of biscotti they love back in Italy. All I heard was squeals of joy, and seeing how excited they were to be reminded of home was really special. Hearing people’s stories and their connections to Eataly is really fun, too.”

What have you learned since joining Eataly?
“I’ve learned so much about Italian foods, from which cheeses pair the best with certain wines to how to make fresh pasta. Everyone is really passionate about food here, and I love that.”

What is your favorite memory from your time at Eataly so far?
“I was working the register one stormy night, and a young, timid girl came over. She asked if we happened to have an umbrella, and I found one for her. She was very grateful and got home through the rain. A couple of weeks later, she came up to me and thanked me for the gesture, and from then on, she always would come say hello to me. She would send other customers ahead so that I could assist her in line! Knowing that I had made that impact on someone was very special.”

What do you enjoy doing outside of Eataly?
“Mostly, I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I love to bake, especially German chocolate cake and almond crescent cookies – two of the many recipes I learned from my mother and grandmother! I also like to explore new neighborhoods, try new restaurants, and spend time at the lake.”