Vision 2020 recognizes Guido's Pizza in ML

MOSES LAKE - Guido's Brick Oven Pizza and Froyo has only been open for a few months, but owners already have a few things to celebrate.

Business at the Moses Lake restaurant has been good, Deanna Galfano said. So good, in fact, that they've had to knock out a couple of interior walls to make room for more tables and chairs, she said.

They are also upgrading the restaurant's frozen yogurt machines and pursuing ways to create outdoor seating in time for this summer, Galfano explained.

"Things have been very, very busy out here," she said.

She said her son, Nicholas Galfano, and his wife Stefanie, opened Guido's last December. Nicholas' father, Mario, also helps at the restaurant.

Galfano said they've all been surprised at the amount of support they've received from the community.

"People are excited that we're here, especially since there was really nothing out here before," she said.

Like the restaurant's customers, the Vision 2020 committee has also enjoyed seeing a new business out on West Broadway Avenue. Guido's opened next to Subway, Snap Fitness and Taco Del Mar, all located in the same parking lot as Lep-re-kon Harvest Foods.

Vision 2020 Chair Bill Ecret said the group decided to recognize the family business for adding to that section of town.

"Guido's has filled a huge void that has existed for some time on this section of West Broadway in Moses Lake," he said. "Having another family-friendly establishment that offers great pizza and other menu items helps Moses Lake offer an even larger variety of restaurant choices to its citizens and visitors."

Vision 2020 members awarded the Galfano family with the first "Visionary Award" of the year earlier this week. Ecret said the award is given to businesses and other groups that help promote and enhance the Moses Lake community.

Vision 2020 works to encourage tourism and economic growth and promote the best features of Moses Lake, among other initiatives, he said. Members include elected officials, chamber of commerce members, business leaders and private individuals.

Galfano said the family is just excited to have the chance to do business in Moses Lake again. Although Guido's is a new concept, the Galfano family has operated restaurants in the Basin before, she said.

Nicholas' grandfather, Frank Galfano, opened the family's first restaurant in Moses Lake in 1954. He opened The Roma Inn, which was the first restaurant on this side of the state to serve pizza and hoagie sandwiches, said Galfano.

In the late 1960s, the family bought an establishment in Ephrata and renamed it Galfano's, she said. A decade later, the family opened up a pizzeria in Quincy.

Galfano said her husband continued the family tradition by opening a sports pub in Seattle. Then they returned to Moses Lake and operated a drive-in for a couple of years, she said.

"Then not too long ago, Nic said he wanted to get into the restaurant business," said Galfano. "So here we are again."

A few of the old flavors from The Roma Inn have found their way onto the Guido's menu, she said. The pizza sauce and all of the salad dressings are made following the original 1954 recipes.

"It's been fun to see people respond to the old recipes," she said. "Some people do remember that flavor."