Bella Vita reopens amid questions of controversial past, new owner explains

Yahoo

15-02-2025

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Las Vegas couples streamed in for their Valentine's Day dinner at an Italian restaurant with a controversial past, but the new owner wants the chance to explain why customers should have no reservations—about making a reservation.
On Oct. 26, 2015, Bella Vita opened its first location in the Green Valley neighborhood in Henderson. The restaurant received acclaim, review awards, and the key to the city during its over a decade of serving the community.
However, following an 8 News Now investigation into threats against employees by Sergio Montegrande, Bella Vita's founder, the restaurant closed all three of his locations and became the target of over a million dollars in claims by unpaid workers, vendors and landlords.
Following a two-and-a-half-hour interview with Montegrande last year, 8 News Now received a statement from a spokesperson for the former restaurant owner.
'As we all navigate through the challenges and successes of our lives, I want to take this moment to offer an apology to anyone I have disappointed or hurt in any way,' Montegrande wrote, 'I acknowledge and accept full responsibility for my actions and decisions that have fallen short of the mark, causing frustration and confusion.'
On Oct. 2024, Bella Vita's Blue Diamond location reopened and former employees and customers reached out to 8 News Now to find out more.
Flavio Garrido, Bella Vita's head chef and new owner, said he wanted the chance to explain what happened at the beloved restaurant, which he reopened four months ago under the same name.
'What we went through [was] difficult, putting the team back,' he said. 'But I'm focused, and I'm glad that we did reopen, because a lot of people are asking, 'What happened to Bella Vita?''
Regular customers from the restaurant's past have started to return and offered support during the reopening, according to Garrido.
'This was and is and will be a community restaurant,' he said. 'That's what we want… where they can feel like they're part of the family.'
Garrido took over the ownership of Bella Vita's Blue Diamond location in Apr. 2024, according to state documents.
Montegrande is not named in the active business license for Bella Vita Blue Diamond's location. However, he is named in documents associated with the name, according to the Nevada Secretary of State's records.
Nationwide Strong LLC, which is owned by Montegrande, owns the branding 'Bella Vita.' Montegrande is only associated with the use of the name in menus, signage, social media and advertisements. The renewal date for the service mark is Aug. 2025.
8 News Now asked Garrido if he intends to change over the name of the restaurant from Montegrande's ownership. Garrido referred the question to Bella Vita's marketing manager, Betsey Bell.
'That's in the process,' she said. 'As all things take time. We're all in the process of everything kind of evolving.'
Bell said she doesn't believe the name registration or recognition has anything to do with Bella Vita at Blue Diamond, which Garrido owns.
'There's a brand-new owner, and there's a brand-new restaurant,' Bell said. 'Basically, we just maintain the ambiance, the feel, the entertainment and the family feeling that you get with the restaurant.'
Garrido said if Montegrande called him on the phone, he would pick up, but it doesn't mean the former owner is still involved in day-to-day operations.
'No, no, no, we worked together for 10 years,' he said. 'We went up to the third location… we split ways, and I wish the best for him.'
Former employees responded to 8 News Now regarding the new ownership, and claimed Garrido was aware of Montegrande's actions, including a lack of paying employees. Garrido said he was just the head chef and never in charge of payroll.
'I was the guy, you know, putting orders, making schedules for the kitchen,' Garrido said. 'Besides that, I don't know what to say. It was not my department.'
Garrido referred his answer back to Bell who added more context to Garrido's former position under the former owner.
'He doesn't have anything to do with the former owner only because he was an employee, just as the other employees were employees of the restaurant. He was as well,' Bell said.
Bell added Garrido's responsibilities were that of the original chef which included creating menus, food, and the atmosphere for the restaurant.
'It is completely new except for the fact that we maintain the brand, we maintain the menu,' she said. 'And we want to create that Bella Vita feel for all of our customers, new and old.'
8 News Now spoke to several workers in a variety of positions around the restaurant and asked if they were being paid, and if their paychecks had cleared. All said yes. The question spurs from concerns and Labor Board findings under the previous owner.
'Piccolo' Iclodean, a Bella Vita sommelier and sever, said he worked under the former owner and wanted to return because Garrido was in charge.
'I actually came back to support because I love this place—I love him,' Iclodean said. 'I love the atmosphere everything that happening. I like our guests, so we have great ambiance here.'
Iclodean said he has seen the customer base grow little by little as word has spread that Bella Vita was reopening, and added he has appreciated a chance to come back to work.
'I'm very, very happy that I chose to come back here,' he said.
Iclodean added he is being paid by Bella Vita under the new owner.
Montegrande responded to a spokesperson who was reached out to by 8 News Now in Oct. 2024 regarding the Bella Vita Blue Diamond reopening.
'Nothing absolutely nothing to do with me, I told the gentlemen who has it to change the name,' Montegrande wrote in a text. 'NEVER AGAIN FOOD AND BEVERAGES EVER !!!'
Four of the five district court cases against Montegrande have closed from former landlords and food vendors, resulting in around $695,000 in monetary judgments. Several former employees allege they still have not been paid.
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