NY's Nino's switches gears, but still serves rescue workers: Italian eatery closes doors to sit-down diners, but will continue charitable deeds as nonprofit organization

Nation's Restaurant News, Feb 18, 2002 by Lori Doss

NEW YORK -- While restaurants nationwide stepped up to donate funds to various relief agencies in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, one restaurant was not satisfied with monetary donations alone.

Blocks from ground zero, Nino's restaurant, a family-run traditional Italian restaurant in downtown Manhattan for 28 years, was closed to the public immediately following the attacks. Owners Nino Vendome and his parents knew they had to do something besides stay closed during those tragic first days. After some deliberation and a suggestion from Vendome's mother, Nino's crew decided the best way for them to help during the tragedy was to feed the hungry rescue workers.

"It hit me that the best thing for us to do was what we do best, serve people and offer hospitality," said Nino's general manager, Nick Pasculli.

Now, however, with the six-month anniversary of the attacks approaching, the number of diners at Nino's has dwindled. According to Rene Typaldos, executive director of the Nino's Restaurant 9/11 Fund, cleanup proceeded quicker than expected because of good weather conditions. As a result, at presstime Nino's was set to close its doors to sit-down diners on Feb. 12. But the restaurant will keep its kitchen open and continue to bring food down to the approximately 800 to 1,000 recovery workers at ground zero.

Almost immediately following the terrorist attacks, on Sept. 13, Nino's opened its doors to feed the exhausted firefighters, police officers and others associated with recovery efforts. The restaurant stuck to its typical red-sauce Italian fare with meatballs, pasta, sausage and peppers.

"The food caught on quickly," Pasculli said. "I understand there were other relief efforts, but I think we had the best food, so the word spread."

Before Sept. 11 Nino's sold approximately 150 meals per day, but after opening as a relief center, that number quickly grew to nearly 5,000. Volunteers by the droves were needed to help keep Nino's running.

Donations from across the country came in, too. Donations from major corporations, such as Tyson Chicken Inc. and Coca-Cola Co., which provided more than 3,000 cans of soda per day, contributed to the cause. And celebrities, such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Don King, Susan Sarandon, Mia Farrow and Emeril Lagasse, all visited the restaurant. The restaurant also received numerous visits from city dignitaries, including former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani. In addition, Nino's recently catered the farewell banquet for Bernie Kerik, the city's police department commissioner. Another visitor was the foreign minister of Pakistan, who commended the restaurant's efforts.

But serving free meals to rescue workers wasn't cheap. According to Pasculli, each meal cost the restaurant approximately $3.50. Initially, Nino's incurred the debt. "We're known in the business, so you can stretch your credit," he said.

But soon the restaurant, which had served as a haven for so many weeks, knew it had to make some tough decisions. It cost at least $80,000 a week to keep the restaurant's doors open 24 hours a day, and Pasculli said the owners knew there had to be a better way to continue aiding rescue workers without incurring debt.

To solve the problem, the restaurant changed its corporate status to that of a nonprofit organization, creating the Nino 's Restaurant 9/11 Fund. In that way it operated exclusively as a relief center to feed and comfort the workers involved in rescue efforts at Ground Zero. The new organization developed a Web site, www.ninos911.org, and committed itself to serving free meals to rescue workers for as long as its services were needed.

"We want to give back something to the men and women who serve us each day in the capacity of police, fire, EMS and all the city workers," Pasculli said. "It's something we can do to boost their morale. We've taken this on as our philosophy."

While the restaurant provided sustenance for rescue workers, it also played a unique roll in New York history as a symbol of strength, dedication and unity. In addition to providing food, the restaurant played a roll as a community center for rescue workers. According to Pasculli, it provides a place for them to rest and relax during their breaks.

"It's a very, very interesting place right now, almost a spiritual shrine in a way," he added.

Volunteer workers are so moved by the service they are providing to rescue workers that they return again and again to help out. Volunteer Peter Yip said he started volunteering at Nino's soon after the terrorist attacks. He said he was looking for a way to contribute and found Nino's.

"I couldn't just sit around," he said. "When I got there [at Nino'sj and saw everything that was happening, my adrenaline kept on going." Over time, Yip said, he and the Nino's crew became friends.

"The restaurant may not be four stars, but it provides good food, beverages, a place to sit and a clean bathroom. You can't beat it," Yip said.

According to Typaldos, the organization's task now is to determine the fate of the numerous artifacts and artwork that decorate Nino's walls. Typaldos said she talked to several museums about preserving the memorabilia.