Napoli's Italian Restaurant

Patrons of Napoli's Italian Restaurant have Northwest Faculty member, Frank Grispino, to thank for bringing the business to Maryville.

Co-owner Bujar "BJ" Rexha said it was after the Northwest Bearcats came to Pittsburg, KS to play football, that he first met Grispino, who was eating at a restaurant owned by Rexha and Vito Ferro.

"(Grispino) came to me and asked us to come to Maryville," Rexha said.

So they did.

"We are happy with everybody here, especially the community," he said. "It's reallya pleasure to work with many people here."

Napoli's opened in Maryville in January and employs approximately 40 people. Rexha, who is originally from Venice, said the restaurant features all types of Italian food, including such favorites as the lasagnas, stromboli and the Napoli Special, and his personal pick, the shrimp florentine.

"Ninety percent of our food is made from scratch," Rexha said, who decided to move his family to Maryville, while still owning four other locations across the Midwest with Ferro. He and his wife, Lude, are parents to three children, Valina, Valmir, and Albatros. His brother and mother also moved with them.

"I love working with people and that will keep us here," he said. "So far, it's been great."

Napoli's is located at 2805 South Main Street and is open from 11 am to 10 pm seven days a week. They have daily lunch specials and a banquet room available for all occasions.

-- Jackie Wood, Maryville Daily Forum (maryvilledailyforum.com)