Vito Family History
It all began in 1910...
Vito Provolone's Southside Indianapolis Italian Restaurant is named after owner Jim Decamp, Jr.'s grandfather, Vito Gramaglia. Vito immigrated to the United States in 1910 when he was 18 years old.
Vito hung his hat in Cincinnati, where he fell in love and married his wife, Antoinette. Vito and Antoinette had nine children - five daughters and four sons.
Antoinette passed away in 1932, leaving Vito to raise their nine children on his own.
Vito hung his hat in Cincinnati, where he fell in love and married his wife, Antoinette. Vito and Antoinette had nine children - five daughters and four sons.
Antoinette passed away in 1932, leaving Vito to raise their nine children on his own.
Founding the Benevolent Club...
Vito retired from the Eastern Machinery Co. and returned to his hometown in Modugno, Italy in 1948.
Vito was appalled to find many people in his homeland poverty stricken and hungry, with the orphanages overcrowded and rundown.
Vito came out of retirement to found the Benevolent Club and spent the next 20 years of his life raising money for orphanages in St. Vincent de Paul and also the elderly and the poor in Modugno.
Vito was awarded the Gold Star of Italy, which is the highest honor in all of Italy.
Rich left the restaurant industry to pursue other endeavors, and Jim DeCamp, Jr. ran the Greenwood store by himself.
Loyalty, family and true Italian cuisine
“We have an extremely solid customer base – people who come in two and three times a week. It's because of these loyal guests that we have made it through the years,” Jim said.
At Vito Provolone's we pride ourselves on the basic philosophy of provenance: authenticity, assurance and only the finest quality ingredients are the only things leaving our kitchen every night.
Vito was appalled to find many people in his homeland poverty stricken and hungry, with the orphanages overcrowded and rundown.
Vito came out of retirement to found the Benevolent Club and spent the next 20 years of his life raising money for orphanages in St. Vincent de Paul and also the elderly and the poor in Modugno.
Vito was awarded the Gold Star of Italy, which is the highest honor in all of Italy.
Vito family restaurant chain begins...
After Vito retired from running the Benevolent Club full-time, he and his sons Vincent and Pasquale founded a chain of Pasquale's Pizza restaurants.
Vito's daughter Cecilia and her husband Jim DeCamp, Sr. moved their family to Indianapolis to help open some Pasquale's restaurants around the city.
Vito's daughter Cecilia and her husband Jim DeCamp, Sr. owned and operated the Pasquale's on Troy Avenue and eventually opened a store in Greenwood for their two oldest sons to run, Rich and Jim Junior.
Rich left the restaurant industry to pursue other endeavors, and Jim DeCamp, Jr. ran the Greenwood store by himself.
"The first few years were tough," says Jim DeCamp, Jr. "But I believed that in time, people who appreciated the friendly service, great service and authentic Italian food would get the word out and everything would be fine."
Loyalty, family and true Italian cuisine
So how's that going for him? Very well! Thanks to the loyal customer base the Vito family restaurants have been flourishing in the local Indianapolis area for over 17 years.
Things were going so well that owner Jim DeCamp, Jr. was able to open a second Vito Provolone's restaurant in downtown Indianapolis.
Jim is quick to thank early loyal customers who continue to make weekly visits to the restaurant.
“We have an extremely solid customer base – people who come in two and three times a week. It's because of these loyal guests that we have made it through the years,” Jim said.
Following in Vito's own footsteps, Jim has since has handed down the day-to-day Vito Provolone operations to his daughter, Lisa.
Jim is still closely involved in both Vito Provolone's Italian restaurants and the Vito family's Pasquale's Pizza restaurants.
Come experience the passion, food & culture of Italy...
At Vito Provolone's we pride ourselves on the basic philosophy of provenance: authenticity, assurance and only the finest quality ingredients are the only things leaving our kitchen every night.
Our passionate dedication ensures that every time you visit with us, you experience the true essence of Italian life: its food, its wine, its culture... and most importantly... the passion of the people.
Vito Provolone's has become a tradition for many families. We invite you to stop in sometime and make it your family's tradition as well.