The Food Guy: Fazio's Italian Restaurant in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä under new ownership

Although rumors of a sale — or possible closure — popped up from time to time in recent years, it wasn’t until March 2023 that the restaurant’s property, building, recipes, equipment, furnishings and name were listed for sale at $1.7 million.

Skaff didn’t want to disclose the final selling price, but he said his team and previous owners Danny and Marsha Fazio agreed on a “fair price� that both parties felt would help ensure continued success to keep the Fazio family’s legacy alive.

'Legendary Italian restaurant'

“We took over last Tuesday, the day after we closed, and haven’t missed a beat,â€� said Skaff, who is also the president of HD Media, the parent company of the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Gazette-Mail. Cruz spent years running Outback and now owns and operates Hale House, 212 Hale St., and the Boulevard Grill (formerly Vino’s), 812 Kanawha Blvd. E. in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä. He and Skaff are lead co-partners in the new venture.

“I’m excited to be a part of this legendary Italian restaurant and help carry on a tradition that’s built on passion, pride and timeless flavors,� Cruz said.

Known for its old-school Italian food and decor, Fazio’s has been owned and operated by different members of the same family since 1949. That’s more than 75 years of serving traditional pasta dishes, pizzas, steaks, seafood and more in four separate dimly lit dining rooms with soft music playing in the background.

And that special vibe, Skaff said, isn’t going anywhere.

“We’re offering the same great food, the same great staff and the same great atmosphere,� he said. “The name is staying the same. The recipes and ingredients in your favorite dishes are all staying. The old Sinatra music and everything else — we have to keep that.�

Danny and Marsha Fazio will stay for the next few weeks to make sure everything coming out of the kitchen is just what the restaurant’s longtime fans expect.

“I don’t think a lot of people realize that almost everything you enjoy at Fazio’s is completely made from scratch,� Skaff added. “I mean, Danny is always in there working it.�

He said they grind their own beans for the coffee they make. They make their own breadcrumbs for the Parmigiano dishes they serve. Every salad dressing, every sauce, the blackened seasoning they use — it’s all made fresh in the kitchen.

“Kudos to Danny for staying on for a bit to make sure everything tastes the same and comes out just as it should," Skaff said. "He’s one of the hardest working people I’ve ever seen. He’s there all day. Everyone likes and respects him. He knows it all.�

Ready to retire

Located in a part of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä where immigrants from different nationalities settled more than 80 years ago, Danny Fazio’s grandparents originally owned the land where the restaurant now stands. The same family has been running it since it first opened its doors, with Danny himself running the kitchen for more than 35 years and supervising its staff after that.

“He was ready to retire, but said he didn’t have to sell the restaurant,� Skaff said. “When it was initially listed back in 2023, he had a few people express interest, but there were no real takers on buying and sustaining the business his family had built. So he just waited. He said if he was going to let someone else take over that legacy, it had to be the right owner.�

Then one day Danny asked Skaff if he knew anyone who loved Fazio’s and might be interested in taking it over. Actually, Skaff knew lots of someones, so he worked with Cruz to assemble a group of 10 investors who all wanted to see the restaurant preserved as well.

“We have lawyers, doctors, bankers, business owners,� he explained. “What they all have in common is that they’re frequent diners at Fazio’s and want to see its legacy continue and grow even stronger.�

What's next

For now, there won’t be any wholesale changes other than adding a few rotating dinner specials, plus increased advertising and promotions to help get the word out about the restaurant’s quality and charm. Many guests view Fazio’s as a place to only visit on special occasions, Skaff said, but the new owners want it to become known as a great everyday place to dine.

“We’re excited to show off the dishes,� Skaff said, “and will be walking around the dining room to showcase the appetizers and desserts we have, to help encourage folks to maybe try something different.�

Later, Skaff said they’ll look at extending their hours, opening at 4 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. and staying open a little later. They may eventually add a Sinatra impersonator, a piano player and a few other minor renovations.

As managing partner, Cruz will oversee daily restaurant operations along with operations manager Eric Bickoff. Cruz’s wife, Chrystie, will be the front-of-house manager handling the waitstaff, reservations and takeout.

“I believe the future of Fazio’s lies in expanding our reach while staying true to the made-from-scratch authentic Italian food that made it legendary,� Cruz added.

“Vicente will ... [learn] everything from Danny to make it all happen,� said Skaff, who will serve as business and marketing manager for the restaurant, plus be managing partner of Goodfellas LLC, the appropriately named holding company of restaurant investors who he believes plays a key role in growing its future.

“You’re going to start seeing more advertising,� Skaff said. “We’re going to be sponsoring teams and being part of community events. We’re going to be out there to help remind people that Fazio’s is still here, and we’d love to see them back.�