Today we’d like to introduce you to Franco Simplicio.
Hi Franco, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I opened my first restaurant in 1991 in Beverly Hills called Il Pastaio, then opened a second Il Pastaio in Pasadena in 1993, then opened Allegria restaurant in Malibu in 1995, then opened Padri restaurant and Tanino restaurant in 1998, then opened Moonshadows restaurant in 2000, then opened Frascati restaurant in 2003 then opened The Sunset in 20004 and in 2015 took over ownership of Ca Del Sole Restaurant. Over the years, I have sold most of these restaurants and now own and manage Moonshadows and The Sunset in Malibu and Ca Del Sole in Toluca Lake.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The major struggles were the 2008 financial collapse and the pandemic of 2020.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Simplicio Group, Inc?
I own restaurants/bars in some strategic locations. I specialize in high-end food and beverage experiences with a casual atmosphere. I always look for niches that are missing in geographical areas and plan a restaurant/bar concept to satisfy that market.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I have a BA degree from UCLA in environmental engineering and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from USC specializing in clinical pharmacy. I also at one point when changing careers, attended and graduated from a culinary school. I entered the restaurant business as an investor and trained into the operational management aspect of it and loved it. I remember thinking when I first started out that it was so much fun, even though I was working 80+ hours per week, that I couldn’t believe that I could get paid for doing it. It was the first time in my life experiencing that bliss of ‘loving what you do”.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: Thesunsetrestaurant.com
- Instagram: @thesunsetrestaurant
