LIBERTY TWP.- Those who have to work outside may dread the chilly temperatures this season, but a Liberty Township business owner who looks forward to working when it's winter.
Baby it's cold outside, but Jimmy Occhibove is okay with that.
Every morning beginning at 3 a.m. he's baking for a living, spending hours near the ovens at Jimmy's Italian Specials on Belmont Avenue.
Compared to the summer months, it's more comfortable at work when winter comes along.
"Actually I love winter, because it's 70 degrees," Occhibove said, store owner.
Since 1974 he and his family have been selling fresh sliced bread, made to order sandwiches wrapped and ready and an array of treats for even the pickiest sweet tooth.
December is the busy season with Christmas cookie and holiday orders. This year, sales were stronger compared to 2011.
"We definitely sold a lot of cookies this year ... this year was a definite increase," Frank Occhibove said, Jimmy's son and store manager.
Customers looking for a way to warm up stopped inside Saturday morning.
"It's cold out there and the food is nice and hot, the pizza-- they just warmed it up for us," Rich Stoy said, a frequent Jimmy's customer.
From dough to done, everything is made by hand including the biscotti's, which take about 2 and a half hours to finish.
"It takes long to process, they have to raise, then we have to bake it," Jimmy Occhibove said.
With hours logged in front of the oven, Jimmy says his secret ingredient is what keeps him going.
"I put everything, my love to everything I do; bread, cookies, anything I do, I love the job," he said.
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