Lifelong Livingston Resident Grows Catering Business as He Gives Back

What began 25 years ago from his mother's Livingston garage has now expanded to a full-time catering, restaurant and entertaining business for David Alan Fabisch.

"I love what I do," Fabisch said from his spacious but eclectic office in East Hanover, which doubles as the home of his two English Bulldogs, Butkus and Sparkle.

The 46-year-old Fabisch, who grew up in Livingston and along with his wife and business partner Staci Lauren Fabisch, is raising his three children here, has a simple philosophy for his success.

"I took my grandfather's advice of offering fresh food, on time and reasonably priced," he said.

While Fabisch's business philosophy appears simple, he has worked hard to retain both his clients and his employees.

"You don't limit what you can give the customer," he explained.

From his start in his mother's garage, he took on any catering job, storing his equipment in Livingston and traveling to jobs cooking whatever the client requested.

As for his 80 employees, he treats them "like his second family," greeting them by name and offering them opportunities for advancement.

In a business that has constant turnover, many of his full time employees have been with him for more than 20 years, beginning with Executive Chef Steve Shuldman, who had worked previously with Fabisch. 

As for treating his business partners like family, nobody comes closer to that than David Alan's Vice President, Staci Fabisch. 

After their wedding, David convinced Staci to invest all their wedding gifts into the business.

"It was more important to grow the business than to buy a house," David commented.

Staci Fabisch, who manages David Alan's Marketplace, a gourmet eatery located adjacent to the catering headquarters, recalls feeling "petrified" about making an estimated $30,000 investment in the business. 

"But I married the right man who knew what he was doing," she added.

Starting Young

Fabisch's food business career began at age 10 when he was offered a position performing odd jobs at the Heritage Diner, located a block from his home and which later became the Ritz Diner.  He eventually worked at Short Hill Caterers and other establishments while working toward an engineering degree in college.

With such a strong love for the food business, at age 21 Fabisch decided to leave college and begin his own catering business.  While his move might have seemed risky, his growth has been controlled.  "Everything runs uphill.  Every decision comes back to me," he added.

With catering contracts across the state and on-site business contracts, the business does operate on a 24-hour basis, with the day crew beginning at 5 a.m. with breakfast orders.  The catering business handles anywhere from 20 to 60 jobs daily with about 12,000 jobs yearly.

While Staci Fabisch spends approximately four davs overseeing the Marketplace, David Alan is on hand 24/7.  Typically, he goes home for dinner and to spend time with his family, including his three children, Samantha, age 19, Sydney, 16 and Dillon, 13.

Enjoying the quiet of the corporate park, Fabisch will return to the office around midnight to finish up paperwork until around 3 a.m.  "Then it is up again at 6 a.m. for a new day, " he stated.

New Ventures

In addition to the Marketplace which opened in 2002, Fabisch also opened The Warehouse, a party room for clients to hold their catered events. 

With a funky 50s motif, including the front end of a classic car, vinyl records dangling from the ceiling, and a stack of comic books, The Warehouse can accommodate up to 85 people for parties such Bar and Bat Mitzvah or Sweet 16.

In addition, Fabisch's new venture will extend The Warehouse with studio 7a.  Currently under construction, this party space will accommodate up to 150 people.

What will make this space unique is it will be entirely white, from the walls and furniture to the linens.  "This will allow for a backdrop for any color or theme to be splashed on," Fabisch explained.

 For more information on Davie Alan, visit their website, or friend them on facebook or follow them on twitter at dacaterers.