Rob Zuliani: Bio

Rob Zuliani, Council Member
Current term: 2024 – 2028

Rob was born on January 23, 1969, in Hartford, Connecticut, and raised in Granby, Connecticut, a small, rural community like Buckhannon. In 1987, he graduated from Granby Memorial High School, and in 1991, he graduated with a BS in Management from The University of Rhode Island. During high school, Rob ran a small lawn mowing and landscaping business. Once in college, he opened Z-BEST Painting and Staining, which employed college students to paint houses and commercial buildings during summer and winter breaks.

In 1993, he opened Zuliani’s New York Style Pizzeria in his hometown, ignoring advice regarding bringing on a partner and quickly learning one of many difficult yet essential business lessons. After the partnership dissolved, he accepted an invitation to a wedding in Buckhannon and met many wonderful people here, including his wife-to-be, Jackie Knicley. Five months later, in November 1994, he moved to Buckhannon.

Shortly after arriving at Buckhannon, he and Jackie made the first batch of Zul’s Frozen Lemonade. The first cup of Zul’s was sold on May 6, 1995, in Buckhannon at a youth soccer tournament. Zul’s Frozen Lemonade has now been in business for 29 years. In 1999, I opened Zuliani’s Italian Pizzeria downtown, across from the post office, and sold it in 2004 to be “Mr. Mom” to their daughter Cameron.

He and Jackie were married on December 12, 1998. Jackie has been employed by the Upshur County Board of Education as a teacher and coach for 31 years. They have two children, Cameron and Carter. Cameron is a sophomore at Merrimack College outside of Boston, and Carter is enjoying his senior year at Bridgeport Upshur High School.