Melissa Gorga's Career from Envy by Melissa Gorga to Podcasting and Pizza
From opening her own boutique to co-owning a restaurant, the RHONJ cast member has done it all.
Act like a lady, think like a boss. Through the years, The Real Housewives of New Jersey fans have seen Melissa Gorga's career blossom, watching her rock roles from parent to podcaster, author to boutique owner. But how did she get to where she is today?
When Melissa first came on the RHONJ scene in Season 3, she was a stay-at-home wife dedicated to supporting her husband, Joe Gorga, in his career as a developer.
"She doesn't know this, but she's my hero," Joe said at the time.
Nevertheless, she had passions of her own—and a work ethic to back them up.
The Boutique: Envy by Melissa Gorga
Always known for her sense of style, the fashionista opened her boutique, Envy by Melissa Gorga, in December 2015 following the successful launch of an HSN jewelry line. Built by Joe, the Montclair, New Jersey destination also has an online store, EnvybyMG.com, for shoppers outside the tri-state area.
"Melissa Gorga’s eye for fashion truly reflects the boutique, as she hand picks pieces from an array of emerging designers to prestigious fashion forward brands," reads the online shop's description. "With that in mind, you will be sure to find something for almost everyone."
In the spring of 2022, Melissa opened a second Envy location in Ridgewood, New Jersey. "Double the size" of the original store, the new shop features more of the same stylish favorites, plus looks worn on RHONJ and Envy merch.
Melissa Gorga's Singing Career
A longtime music fan, Melissa's first single, "On Display," was released in August 2011 and she followed it up with plenty of other bops. While she eventually decided to put her singing career on hold, Melissa still takes the stage every so often — including BravoCon 2022 alongside her fellow Bravolebs — and said she'll "never say never" when it comes to recording new music.
Melissa's Memoir and Podcast
The Jersey mom has also translated her skills to the literary world. Her book, Love, Italian Style: The Secret of My Hot and Happy Marriage, was published in 2013. Besides detailing her past, the memoir discussed "Melissa's overriding principle" for making a good marriage: Treating her husband "like a king!"
While the book was met with some controversy, Melissa defended her words at the time in a Season 5 RHONJ blog. However, a sequel might still be necessary. The author noted five years after the book's publication that she didn't completely agree with what everything she'd written, especially when it came to her more traditional views of marriage roles.
"I think I've changed a lot, just as a person," she told E! News in 2018. "I'm just coming into my own, and I feel like just the way that [Joe] and I run our household has changed a lot over the past couple of years."
If listening to her music and reading her book isn't enough, Melissa also hosts a podcast, Melissa Gorga On Display, which launched in 2021.
The Gorga Family Restaurant
What's more, Melissa previously owned a restaurant, Gorga's Homemade Pasta & Pizza, in East Hanover, NJ, with Joe and her sister-in-law, Teresa Giudice. The restaurant opened in May 2017 as a tribute to Joe and Teresa's late mother, Antonia Gorga, and featured family recipes and dishes named after Gorga family members. Melissa discussed her initial hesitation at entering the restaurant industry in an interview with The Daily Dish in October 2017.
While you can't taste her family pasta recipes right now, there's always a chance the eatery will make a comeback—unless something even more exciting is in the works for this boss Bravolebrity.
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