Restaurant Revisited: Creepy in Clearwater at Smitty's Restaurant
While there were indeed substantial problems with the food as well as the interior design at Smitty's Restaurant in Clearwater, Fla., the gravest issue came in the form of bugs — an entire infestation of cockroaches, in fact. Overrun with these crawly creatures, husband-and-wife owners Gus and Evi Gialelis' business faced certain closure if Robert Irvine and his Restaurant: Impossible team couldn't locate the source of the swarm. But to do so they'd have to rely on a professional exterminator, something that would significantly drain the overall renovation budget.
"I have never come across a restaurant this bad in my whole career," Robert told Gus and Evi, who felt personally defeated in the wake of their struggling business. He initially questioned whether "this may be the one restaurant that's too far gone," but Robert's not one to walk away from a mission, of course. And in just two days, he reopened the doors at Smitty's to a welcoming, clean restaurant that was dishing out quality food. FN Dish checked in with Evi a few weeks after the reopening to find out how the restaurant is doing today.
Smitty's has seen an increase in business since the show taped, and Evi says she's noticing many first-time customers at the restaurant.
Along with the wait staff, Nick, Evi's father and a cook, remains at Smitty's, and he "helps Gus on the line more these days," according to Evi. They're now getting along much better than they were before the show.
While the restaurant is still offering the same large menu, Evi explains, "We have incorporated some daily specials on our boards, not at overly discounted prices like before." One of the most-popular dishes has proved to be the souvlaki salad, topped with pork, beef, chicken or gyro. Nick has also been preparing daily specials, and Evi tells FN Dish that they're "very good."
Perhaps most importantly, the eatery is being kept clean, the staff committed to "daily, weekly and monthly duties that are done to keep it immaculate," Evi says. "We have a professional commercial exterminator come out every two weeks, and the kitchen is the cleanest it has ever been."
She adds that "The equipment, the food that was ordered and the items that were bought for the show are still being paid off," so Gus' pay is still no more than $300. He now "spends more time with all of us," Evi says, noting that she's no longer crying at night. "After all that is said and done, Gus is a very hard worker who strives for perfection at work."
Reflecting on her family since the renovation, Evi tells FN Dish: "Our relationship as a family has always been strong. We are a lot happier nowadays because once again we are putting God first, family second and Smitty's third. For a long time, we had our priorities all messed up, because Smitty's always came first."
