Rigazzi’s on The Hill bought to St. Louis place business duo

Ganim is the owner of numerous franchise salons, and owned and operated Jeremiah’s Restaurant and Lounge in Cape Girardeau. Christanell’s track record contains over 20 many years at Anheuser-Busch as a senior advisor to the CEO and as a senior director of the company’s sporting activities and leisure internet marketing section.

Christanell grew up doing the job at “Mama” Toscano’s Ravioli, a Hill staple owned by his grandparents. In accordance to a push release, Toscano’s ravioli were being one particular of the initially merchandise on Rigazzi’s menu and continue being there these days.

Christanell stated he felt it critical that Rigazzi’s stays a part of the town for generations to occur.

“Rigazzi’s is a landmark in St. Louis, and an possibility to invest in this sort of an iconic cafe does not arrive close to typically,” Christanell said in a statement. “We will honor the rich history of Rigazzi’s whilst evolving to fulfill the thrilling new advancement and electricity getting place on The Hill. It’s a fantastic time to be below, and we’re energized for the long run.”

The Italian-American joint is at the corner of Daggett Avenue and Boardman Street. It opened in 1957 beneath Lou Aiazzi and John Riganti. Lou was succeeded by his son Mark Aiazzi, who ran the restaurant with his wife Joan right until his loss of life in 2013.

“It was significant for me to guarantee the upcoming operator of Rigazzi’s was an individual with deep ties to The Hill,” Joan Aiazzi said in a assertion, of Christanell and Ganim. “They grew up coming right here, and they comprehend what Rigazzi’s signifies to our visitors and our group. I can relaxation simple figuring out they will preserve the traditions we developed on our very little corner of The Hill alive and very well, and I just cannot wait to arrive back and take pleasure in a glass of wine on the guest side of the bar!”

The new proprietors assure friends that the properly-loved Frozen Fishbowls aren’t heading everywhere, on the other hand Christanell and Ganim are searching to make upgrades and enhancements to the eatery and its menu.

St. Louis native and restaurant sector veteran Joe Herbert has been hired as typical supervisor, in addition to neighborhood cafe specialist Greg Tricky, who will assist examine the menu and help with style upgrades.

“Before I was the proprietor, I was a extended-time consumer. I know what makes Rigazzi’s specific, and we’re not seeking to transform that,” Christanell mentioned.