The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Restaurateur to the stars plans ‘fantastic’ eatery
PERTH: Vito Crolla wants to convert an empty building in South Street
A restaurateur to the stars has set his sights on Perth for his latest dining venture.
Vito Crolla’s family counted Sir Sean Connery, Elizabeth Taylor and Princess Grace of Monaco among patrons at their Edinburgh restaurants.
The businessman wants to convert the empty Bank of Scotland building in South Street into a “magnificent” Italian restaurant.
He is following in the footsteps of his father, also Vito, who set up a chain of restaurants after arriving from Italy in the 1970s.
He said: “We are targeting an opening for September or October.
“Once it’s open I’ll need at least 20 to 25 staff to man it, maybe more.”
“The property we have has the potential to be outstanding – it’s on the main road, it’s the first place you see and when we get it done the way we want it it’s going to look absolutely fantastic.”
The son of a restaurateur beloved by actor Sean Connery is to bring the family’s next generation of eateries to Perth.
Vito Crolla served famous faces including the Bond actor, screen siren Elizabeth Taylor and ex-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at his eponymous Edinburgh restaurant Vito’s, which opened in the 1970s. Actor Peter Ustinov and football figures including Scotland legend Graeme Souness were also among his clientele.
Now his son, also Vito, is to expand the Crollas’ culinary horizons beyond the capital and set up in the Fair City.
He plans to turn an empty Bank of Scotland building on South Street into a “magnificent” Italian restaurant.
The venture is the first time the 41-year-old has struck out on his own and he considers it an “evolution” of his famous father’s brand, rather than an expansion, calling it Zio Vito’s – Italian for Uncle Vito’s.
He said: “There’s a lot of work to be done to take it from a complete shell to where we want it to be.
“We are targeting an opening for September or October.
“Once it’s open I’ll need at least 20 to 25 staff to man it, maybe more. We are in the early stages of planning, but everything is getting put in place. We are going as fast as we can.
“This is our first restaurant outside of Edinburgh. The property we have has the potential to be outstanding – it’s on the main road, it’s the first place you see and when we get it done the way we want it it’s going to look absolutely fantastic.”
He added that the restaurant would be more than an extension of the Vito’s brand.
“My father came over here a long time ago with his whole family and they all set up restaurants in Edinburgh. As far back as I can remember it’s been in the blood.
“My father served Sean Connery frequently, there were people like Margaret Thatcher, football figures like Graeme Souness and Wallace Mercer.
“This is my own personal venture. I think I will be known for being my father’s son, as he was very well known in Edinburgh, but while I would like to emulate my dad this is the next generation.”
Vito Crolla Sr was originally from Picinisco, in the Monte Casino area of Italy, and opened his first Edinburgh restaurant in the early 1970s. He died aged 53 in 1996.