Ellen Name and Brian Hueben had been regulars at Steve’s Villa Capri in Overland Park.
Particularly for The Star
Steve’s Villa Capri, a Johnson County mainstay for decades, has closed.
[–>
The restaurant was founded in Overland Park in 1961 and most recently operated at 10412 Mastin St. The owners couldn’t be reached for comment.
[–>
[–>
In a Thursday Facebook post, they said: “Dearest Friends, Staffing has once again hit us. We have decided to close the restaurant as of today’s lunch, May 25th. We can’t thank you enough!”
[–>
Fans posted such comments as:
[–>
▪ “Enjoy your retirement. You made the best spaghetti and meat sauce. Take care my friend.”
[–>
▪ “So sorry to hear; that pizza is like no other! Agree with others — enjoy your retirement! VC & SVC sure had an EXCELLENT run.”
[–>
▪ “This is so sad. We have been eating Villa Capri since the 60’s from the 47th and Troost location back in the day. You will be missed.”
[–>
▪ “Thank you for every birthday, anniversary, date, and family meal memory! Your restaurant was my very favorite. Happy retirement!”
[–>
▪ “The end of an era. The best pizza!!”
[–>
▪ “Thank you for the great food and memories!”
[–>
▪ “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! NO NO NOOOOOOOO!!!! You guys are my favorite Italian restaurant in the world!!! We drive from Topeka to eat dinner there!!!! Been coming there since the ‘60’s!!!!”
[–>
Anthony “Tony” Scudiero opened the restaurant in downtown Overland Park in 1961 with his brother, but he became sole owner a year later. At one time there were a half dozen locations across the metro, and its tuna pizza was a popular order, along with two 8-ounce lobster tails.
[–>
His son, Steve, started washing dishes and busing tables as a 12-year-old. Then he moved up — pizza cook, delivery boy, spaghetti cook and management.
[–>
He left to work for casinos here and in Colorado for a dozen years, while occasionally filling in at the restaurant. His mom died and dad had a stroke in 2012, and he took over as owner.
[–>
Two years later, Scudiero and his wife, Diana, moved the restaurant to the current location, in what was once a Subway and Goodcents training center. Their church met there for a time — calling it the Church of the Checkered Tablecloths. Scudiero family photos, an Italian flag and a map of Italy line the back hallway.
[–>
[–>
It was best known for its Villa Capri Special Pizza with Italian sausage, pepperoni, hamburger, green pepper, mushrooms and onions, topped with housemade sauce and a provolone and mozzarella cheese mix. (Anchovies or meatballs were $2.25 extra.)
[–>
But like many restaurants coming out of the pandemic, they struggled to find enough employees. So the couple ran it together with just a dishwasher and server, working four hours at dinner Thursdays through Saturdays.
[–>
In a Star story last year about Kansas City’s oldes restaurants, Scudiero said its secret to success was “consistency, the friendliness, the family atmosphere. A lot of customer service, that’s a big thing. We treat everyone like family.”
[–>