Paul Bass Photo
David Goraieb had a feeling that he’d end up unloading boxes of peppers and pork bellies from a truck Monday morning.
That’s not his main job. He goes to work at 1:30 each morning to fill orders and load the delivery truck at L.C. Fine Italian Foods at Long Wharf Terminal. His regular shift ends eight hours later, when drivers deliver the food to restaurants throughout the state and New York and western Massachusetts.
But when a driver calls in unable to work … then Goraieb takes a second full shift behind the wheel to unload the food at up to 15 eateries as far away as Cromwell.
That’s been happening a lot over the past year. Like three times a week.
Especially on Mondays.
“I kind of knew it was going to happen,” he said around 9:45 a.m. Monday during a conversation on the “Word on the Street” segment of WNHH FM’s “LoveBabz LoveTalk” program, as he ferried the food boxes from his truck parked on Crown Street to the side entrance of Soul de Cuba Cafe.
“The guy who usually drives this truck often calls out on Mondays. Then another guy called out.”
Goraieb, 36, is raising four young children in New Haven with his wife, who works as a medical assistant. He said he doesn’t have trouble getting to work by 1:30 a.m. despite the early hour. Alarm, out of bed, teeth brushed, into the car — 15 minutes, he said.
And he said he doesn’t mind the long hours he’s working — similar to the extra shifts workers in other industries, like police officers, are putting in week after week during a labor shortage. He said he enjoys the “flexibility” of the job, the variety of tasks, the ability to do physical tasks, the change in scenery on different days’ runs.
Goraieb’s been a “warehouse guy” for seven years first with Advanced Paper Co., also on Long Wharf, then the past two years with L.C. Fine Food after Advanced sold out to W.B. Mason.
Goraieb estimated he would finish his runs by 2 p.m. Monday. He had two stops to make in Old Saybrook: Kenny’s Pizza and Fiore’s Pizza. Last scheduled stop was back in New Haven, at Costa Pizza.
His favorite pizza? DePalma’s in East Haven. He delivers them sauce, produce, flour, pepperoni. Then he returns at least once a week with his family — as customers.
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Click here and see below for previous“Word on the Street” episodes and write-ups.
Word On The Street: Ashes Mark New Life Chapter
The Word On County Street: Greg Weighs His Next Move
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During Dwight Detour, Dominique Discovers Eden
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Word On The Street: ICU Crew Lands At Bella’s
Pizzeria Raises Dough For Turkish Earthquake Victims
Word On Springside: Hot Pile, Cooler Planet
Park Trees Preserved
Word On Winthrop: Mom/Daughter TCBs
Word On Whalley: Wings Rise; Neon Fades
Word On Beers Street: That’s The Drill
Word On The Street: Sisterhood Is Wow-erful
Word On The Street: 1st Step Taken
Word On The Street: New Loos Arrive
Word On The Street: Kash Starts Fresh
Word On The Street: The Gig Cycle Spins
Word On The Street: Dumped Trash Disappears
Word On The Street: Job Interview Awaits
Word On The Street: Callaghan Suits Up
Officer McKernan Refuels For Double Duty
Word On The Street: Fred Keeps Moving
Word On The Street: Mimosa Mania
Word On The Street: Terry Hands Over The Brakes
Safety Hunter Keeps Eye On The Rising Tiers
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Word On The Street: Bridgette Beats The Sun
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The Word On Brownell Street: Call Luciano
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Dr. J Clears The Way
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Word On Church St.: Drugs Are Everywhere
Indoor“Sunrise” Breakfasts Resume For The Hungry & The Homeless
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Word on the Street: Math
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Lyric Hall Goes With The Flow
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Bobby’s Not Snitching »Grill Goes Cold After Inspector’s Visit
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Word On The Street:“Level Up”
Word On The Street: Paying Rent, Staying Safe
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Word On The Street: Caffeine
Word On The Street: 10 AM Georgia Hots
Thank you, David, for keeping our beloved businesses well stocked!