Juggling Challenges and Celebrities in Hospitality

It seems hard to believe that it's been 12 years since Della Femina in East Hampton closed its doors, but if anyone would know, it'd be Walter Struble. Walter was perhaps more synonymous with the iconic restaurant of the 90's and 00's than its namesake himself. Ever present, overseeing the door, the dining room, the bar, the staff, the customers, the phone, the books and every other aspect of the place, Walter did it all. And though he did it with grace and charm and made it look easy, woe betide the occasional wannabe big shot who tried to bully a server or overtake the maitre'd post-- Walter was not one to be crossed. It was great to sit down with him and hear some of the famous stories of those one or two bad apples, but more importantly the great stories of the long line of amazing people who had the distinction of working there during Walter's run. Of course, we catch up on what's been going on in his life in the years since, and what he plans for the future.