Our much-loved and locally respected pizzeria owner, Vinny Cimino (along with wife Tina) will be appearing on the Food Network show, Restaurant Impossible with Robert Irvine, airing Thursday, July 14th at 8pm, PST. You can watch it anywhere you can see Food Network programing including cable, dish, YouTube TV and other outlets.
We couldn’t let you see any photos of the remodeled interior, but we talked with Vinny today (holding a photo with him and his mom above) and got the scoop on the show and what we should expect.
Vinny has been in the restaurant business for 38 years and had built and sold off 26 restaurants over that time, mostly located in the mid-west near Chicago, his home town. What we got to see from Vinny was a different side to him and his story.
He tells us that his father died when he was only 14, and from that moment on his childhood ended – he grew up right then and there. The family owned a restaurant so that became his everything. Not only his life, business, passion, vocation and then even as he married and started his own family, he was still focused entirely on his business.
Vinny tells us, this is what needed to change.
Enter the television show, Restaurant Impossible, which is really something of a phenomenon. Vinny says he applied when they were still in their original location in Boulder City which opened in 2012.
If you’re not familiar with the program, it has a similar formula from episode to episode. Star Chef, Irvine goes into restaurant. It’s in need of help – this is wrong, that is bad, and oh my gosh you need some of this! How have you ever survived! But then the team on the show dig in and do a remodel of each location and they work with the owner to help solve their problems, teach them new food items or whatever is needed. When you watch the program just know this is in fact part of the shtick – it’s a television show folks!
But Vinny’s Pizzeria is different. Often the show does focus on restaurants that are failing or are on the verge of closure. That is not the case here! Vinny’s is a profitable and thriving enterprise thanks to all of us in Boulder City and the travelers that dine at his establishment.
What Vinny needed most was help with himself. To find a balance in his life again, to spend time with family and to figure out how to set boundaries and make that work. He sheepishly admitted he has taken only two vacations in all these 38 years.
He also told us that Irvine sat him down and looked over his costs and pricing to help evaluate how they can continue to operate successfully. We know it’s been relentless for restaurant owners to hustle to stay open during the pandemic, and now with the inflationary prices we’re all seeing, it’s even more challenging. Vinny tells us that a case of wings that was $49 is now $129. A case of cheese that used to be $50 is now $90-$120. So yes, you will see some small adjustments to pricing at their place – AND coming soon will be at least four new dishes he says also that will be De-lish!
Congrats to Vinny, his amazing wife Tina, his family and the staff there for this amazing opportunity. Boulder City, again remember that you’ll be seeing some smack-talk when you watch the show but understand this is a HUGE opportunity for our little slice of Italy! We hope you watch. Ciao!
