Vinny’s Pizza Pasta Ribs opens in Wulguru neighbourhood shops
Priding itself on “making pasta from scratch”, there’s a new pizza and ribs business in Wulguru which has been moved beyond words for one touching reason.
Townsville
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An Italian restaurant in Wulguru is riding a wave of community goodwill as people in the suburb and surrounding areas rally to support the new business.
Business owner Prinsal “Prince” Patel said he had never seen anything like it.
“I came here as a businessman but after seeing the community and the way they support us now I want to be part of this community and support them as much as I can,” Mr Patel said.
“The way they have done things for me, it’s overwhelming.”
Mr Patel operates Vinny’s Pizza, Pasta, Ribs which has opened in Edison Plaza.
Under previous ownership, the 11-store plaza became vacant except for one store when tenants were let go ahead of plans to convert the property into a child care centre.
But the childcare centre plan never eventuated and Wulguru lost its local shops.
Mr Patel said it was one reason the community was so committed to its success.
As many as 50 customers lined up to buy his pizzas on the first nights of trade as people in the suburb spread the word on social media and among friends.
Mr Patel is the brother of Gold Coast restaurateur Will Patel who with other partners has bought the shopping centre from the wife of federal Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton.
Mr Patel said they wanted to bring the centre back to life and had plans to upgrade the premises with new glass shopfronts and lighting to improve visibility at night.
Colliers has leased one of the shops to a business supporting National Insurance Disability Scheme clients, Get Helping Hands, while other businesses including a laundromat and Torres Strait Islander restaurant are interested.
Mr Patel said he could help a bakery to establish if anybody was interested.
A bakery was one of the shops which vacated the premises under the previous owners and had been very popular, he said.
“We are trying to make this place vibrant again. We have very big plans. We are going to change all of the glass and put more lights in so at night time people can see,” Mr Patel said.
Mr Patel, like his brother, emigrated to Australia from Gujarat state in India.
He had never eaten pizza or pasta until coming to Australia to work in one of his brother’s Italian restaurants.
“Now I’m making pasta from scratch. Whatever we make here everything is fresh,” Mr Patel said.
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Originally published as Vinny’s Pizza Pasta Ribs opens in Wulguru neighbourhood shops
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