Losing money after 27 years in Boise and Meridian, beloved restaurant abruptly closes

The final plate of pasta has been served at Gino’s Italian Ristorante.

After nearly three decades in the Treasure Valley, the local favorite changed farewell plans and abruptly closed Monday at 3015 W. McMillan Road in Meridian.

Customers knew the restaurant’s days were limited. In December, Gino’s announced that it would shutter at the end of February — remaining open on Fridays and Saturdays, reservation only — to give friends a chance to say goodbye.

Economic challenges forced the decision, according to a statement from the Vuolo family and Jimmy Gadson, who own Gino’s.

But this week, Gino’s pulled the plug early. “I am saddened to announce,” the restaurant wrote on social media, “that even though we had planned on being open through the end of February, we are making the decision to close the doors permanently now. The root cause for this is we have been sustaining restaurant operations at a loss and it doesn’t make sense to continue.

“Thank (you) for the years of patronage, and we are grateful that you wanted to come dine with (us) one last time. Gino’s Italian Ristorante will remain a memory of a pleasant dining experience for all of us. Thank you again.”

Gino’s was first opened in downtown Boise in early 1997 by owner-chef Gino Vuolo. Born in Naples and raised in New York’s Little Italy, Vuolo moved back to Naples before eventually relocating to Idaho with his wife, Tia, a native Boisean.

In 2009, Gino’s left downtown Boise and moved near the intersection of Ten Mile and McMillan roads in Meridian.

Fond of emerging from the kitchen to warmly welcome customers, Vuolo created a family atmosphere at Gino’s. His parents operated an Italian restaurant in Manhattan for more than two decades. The menu at Gino’s was crafted around Southern Italian recipes rooted in a Naples restaurant started by his grandmother more than a century ago.

Vuolo died in January of 2022 after a four-year fight with cancer.

This story was originally published January 23, 2024 at 10:04 AM.