Da Mimmo, an Italian restaurant in Dumont, New Jersey, is set to close on September 30. The announcement comes after a turbulent period that included an appearance on Gordon Ramsay’s show, *Kitchen Nightmares*.
Opened in 2022 by Vito Gigante Sr., a Hoboken police detective, and his wife, retired police lieutenant Melissa Gigante, Da Mimmo struggled financially, accumulating nearly $500,000 in debt within six months. Despite efforts to keep the restaurant afloat, including double shifts by Vito Sr. and Melissa covering staff pay out of pocket, the financial strain proved too great.
Gordon Ramsay visited Da Mimmo in June 2023 as part of *Kitchen Nightmares* and critiqued everything from soggy pizza to unsanitary kitchen conditions. Ramsay also confronted the Gigante family’s younger sons, Vito and Vincent, both social media influencers, for not using their online platforms to promote the restaurant. The brothers, who have over a million followers, seemingly wanted no part in the restaurant business despite their family’s debt trying to keep the place open. Ramsay revamped the menu, restructured the kitchen, and encouraged Antonio, the couple’s eldest son and head pizza chef, to refine his craft.
Despite a successful relaunch, the family has decided to close the restaurant, citing excitement for future opportunities. Antonio, in particular, has expressed interest in exploring new ventures in the pizza industry.
Da Mimmo’s final days will be spent serving loyal customers, with the family expressing gratitude for the community’s support throughout their journey.
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The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.
