Bill Gianino’s 50th Anniversary Party culminates today

Courtesy of Gianino's

Courtesy of Gianino's

September 27 marks a milestone for Bill Gianino’s (4571 Chestnut Park Plz ), the Oakville flagship for the Gianino Family Restaurants, which is celebrating its fifth decade in business.

All year long, the restaurant has been celebrating its 50^th anniversary with carryout and drink specials, as well as monthly pizza and pasta specials for $19.75, a nod to the year of the restaurant’s inception. Over the years, the restaurant has become known for its wide variety of classic Italian fare, which spans more than 20 pasta dishes.

This weekend caps a three-day anniversary bash, with Saturday serving as the main event. Guests can enjoy a full day of festivities both inside and out, featuring:

• Wine, beer, and liquor tastings
• Outdoor food and drink specials
• Raffles
• Cigar rolling demo and sales
• Face painter and balloon artist (2–4 p.m.)
• DJ Matt Wallach from (2–9 p.m.)
• Clydesdale visit (6–8 p.m.)
• Accordion duo and violinist (indoors, 6–8 p.m.)

“Saturday is an alfresco party that runs from noon–10 p.m.,” says Billy Gianino, son of late founder Bill, Sr. “But people need to remember that it’s all dedicated to my mom and dad. None of the last 50 years of restaurants would have happened without their vision, guidance, and perseverance.”

The Backstory

Courtesy of Gianino's

Courtesy of Gianino's

Bill Gianino, Sr. was the scion behind the Gianino Family of Restaurants: three Joey B’s, two Billy G’s, Bill Gianino’s Traditional Italian, Frankie G’s Grill & Bar, and Frankie Gianino’s in Imperial, Missouri.

His father, Frank Gianino, ran a number of pizza restaurants, which is where Bill got his start. Some restaurateurs get into the business voluntarily and at a young age. Others, like Bill, jump on board when duty called. “You hear those words from your dad,” he said in this article from 2011. “‘The bus boy didn’t show up tonight… The dishwasher didn’t show up tonight… The janitor didn’t show up tonight.’”  

Courtesy of Gianino's

Courtesy of Gianino's

Along with his wife, Kathy, he raised two sons, Billy Jr., who operates Billy G’s (in Kirkwood and Chesterfield), and Anthony, who co-owns Joey B’s along with “surrogate” son, Joey Barczewski. Gianino, Sr. passed away in June 2020.

“Bill was not the kind of restaurateur who sought fame or his place in the spotlight, but he was a guy whom everybody looked to for advice,” says Lori McElvain, owner of Lori O Interiors and designer of nine projects for the Gianino family. “’Run it by Bill.’ ‘Ask Bill.’ ‘See what Bill thinks‘” were common refrains, she says. “He’d owned and operated so many restaurants that he knew all the answers.”

John Saracino, from the Bartolino family of restaurants, says “one of the best things about Bill was that he never said a bad word about anyone. And if I ever had a question about the restaurant business, I would always ask Bill. He was a wealth of knowledge in the business and also life in general.”

In this memoriam to Bill, Sr., SLM recalls when the Kirkwood Billy G’s was in its demolition stage. Scaffolding was everywhere, all four walls were shored up with wood, the basement was exposed… In short, the place was a disaster. Like many restaurant projects, this one had become a lot more involved and expensive than the Gianino family had originally planned. At that point, most restaurateurs would have panicked and cut every corner they could. Instead, Gianino spared no expense and completed the job as designed, creating a juggernaut that became one of the most popular restaurants—and restaurant patios—in St. Louis.

McElvain was Gianino’s designer on the project. “Every project I did for Bill was a handshake deal,” she says. “Had we drawn up contracts, I would have underbid and lost my shirt on about three-quarters of them. And he knew that. I have many clients who are kind but not that kind of kind.”

Courtesy of Gianino's

Courtesy of Gianino's

“Bill just knew how to treat people,” she continues. “He was a Golden Rule guy, but even more so, he was a big ‘second chances’ guy. I saw it happen over and over, with suppliers, with subcontractors, and even with me when I screwed up. It created an intense loyalty that other restaurant owners will never experience. That is what made him so special to so many people.”

Regarding today’s festivities, Billy, Jr. says, “My mom and brother feel so blessed to have reached this exciting milestone. We hope people can join our family and longtime staff as we celebrate 50 wonderful years.”