Iconic Fazio’s restaurant has new owners; "same great food, staff and atmosphere”
- Steven Keith
- May 20
- 5 min read
One of Charleston’s oldest, most iconic and arguably most beloved restaurants is now under new ownership.
With the financial help of 10 “silent partners,” businessman Doug Skaff Jr. and restaurateur Vincent Cruz have purchased Fazio’s Italian Restaurant at 1008 Bullitt St. in Charleston, which they officially closed on May 12 after months of negotiations.
Although rumors of its sale or possible closure popped up from time to time through recent years, it wasn’t until March 2023 that the restaurant’s property, building, recipes, equipment, furnishings and “well-known name” were officially listed for sale at $1.7 million.
Although Skaff didn’t want to disclose the final selling price, he said his team and previous owners Danny and Marsha Fazio eventually agreed on a “fair price” that both parties felt would help ensure continued success to keep the Fazio family’s legacy alive.
“We took over last Tuesday, the day after we closed, and haven’t missed a beat,” said Skaff, who is the President of HD Media, the company that owns and operates the Charleston Gazette-Mail. Cruz spent years running Outback and now owns and operates Hale House and the Boulevard Grill (formerly Vino’s) in Charleston. He and Skaff Jr. are lead co-partners in the new venture.
“I’m excited to be a part of this legendary Italian restaurant and help carry on a tradition that’s built on passion, pride and timeless flavors,” Cruz said.
Known for its unabashedly old-school Italian food and decor, Fazio’s has been owned and operated by different members of the same family in since 1949.
That’s more than 75 years serving traditional pasta dishes, pizzas, steaks, seafood and more in four dimly lit dining rooms with soft music playing in the background. And that special vibe, Skaff said, isn’t going anywhere.
“We’re offering the same great food, the same great staff and the same great atmosphere,” he said. “The name is staying the same. The recipes and ingredients in your favorite dishes are all staying. All of the décor that creates that old Italian family feeling will still be there. The old Sinatra music and everything else – we have to keep that!”
Former owners Danny and Marsha are even going to stay on board for the next few weeks to make sure everything coming out of the kitchen is just what the restaurant’s longtime fans expect.
“I don’t think a lot of people realize that almost everything you enjoy at Fazio’s is completely made from scratch,” Skaff added. “I mean, Danny is always in there working it.”
He said they grind their own beans for their coffee they make. They make their own breadcrumbs for the Parmigiano dishes they serve. Every salad dressing, every sauce, the blackened seasoning they use – it’s all made fresh in the kitchen.
“Kudos to Danny for staying on for a bit to make sure everything tastes the same and comes out just as it should. He’s one of the hardest working people I’ve ever seen. He’s there all day. He’s hands-on. Everyone likes and respects him. He knows it all.”
Located at 1008 Bullitt St. in a part of town where immigrants from different nationalities settled more than 80 years ago, Danny Fazio’s grandparents originally owned the land where the restaurant now stands.
The same family has been running it since it first opened its doors, with Danny himself running the kitchen for more than 35 years and supervising its staff after that.
“He was ready to retire, but said he didn’t have to sell the restaurant,” Skaff said. “When it was initially listed back in 2023, he had a few people express interest, but there were no real takers on buying and sustaining the business his family had built. So he just waited. He said if he was going to let someone else take over that legacy, it had to be the right owner. And if he couldn’t find that, he’d just keep working.”
Then one day Danny casually asked Skaff if he knew anyone who loved Fazio’s and might be interested in taking it over.
Actually, Skaff knew lots of someones, so he worked with Cruz to assemble a group of 10 silent investors who all wanted to see the restaurant preserved as well.
“We have lawyers, doctors, bankers, business owners,” he explained.
“What they all have in common is that they’re frequent diners at Fazio’s and want to see its legacy continue and grow even stronger.”
For now, there won’t be any wholesale changes other than adding a few rotating dinner specials, plus increased advertising and promotions to help get the word out about the restaurant’s quality and charm. Many guests view Fazio’s as a place to only visit on special occasions, Skaff said, but the new owners want it to become more known as a great everyday place to dine.
“We’re excited to show off the dishes,” Skaff said, “and will be walking around the dining room to showcase the appetizers and desserts we have, to help encourage folks to maybe try something different.”
Later, Skaff said they’ll look at extending their hours, opening at 4 p.m. instead of 5 and staying open a little later at night. They may eventually add a Sinatra impersonator, a piano player and a few other minor renovations.
As general manager, Cruz will oversee daily restaurant operations along with operations manager Eric Biscoff. Cruz’s wife, Chrystie, will be the front-of-house manager handling the waitstaff, reservations and takeout.
“I believe the future of Fazio’s lies in expanding our reach while staying true to the made-from-scratch authentic Italian food that made it legendary,” Cruz added.
“Vicente will be the blood, sweat and tears over there, learning everything from Danny to make it all happen,” said Skaff, who will serve as business and marketing manager for the restaurant, plus be managing partner of Goodfellas LLC, the appropriately named holding company of restaurant investors who he believes plays a key role in growing its future.
“You’re going to start seeing more advertising,” Skaff said.
“We’re going to be more involved in the community. We’re going to be sponsoring teams and being part of community events. We’re going to be out there to help remind people that Fazio’s is still here and we’d love to see them back.”
IF YOU GO: Fazio’s at 1008 Bullitt St. in Charleston is open for dinner from 5-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 5-9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. For more information, call 304-344-3071, visit www.faziosrestaurante.com or check out the restaurant’s Facebook page.
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Steven Keith is a food writer and restaurant critic known as “The Food Guy” who writes a weekly column for the Charleston Gazette-Mail and has appeared in several state, regional and national culinary publications. Follow him online at www.wvfoodguy.com or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. He can be reached at 304-380-6096 or at wvfoodguy@aol.com.