Happy Father’s Day to all the Rad Dads in Southwest Florida! I love telling your stories – your leadership is inspiring, and the unique ways in which you mentor your children and demonstrate creativity and innovation is exciting. This month, we’re spotlighting one who’s built a legacy of family-friendly pizza in Southwest Florida through community, sports, and great food. I’m so pleased to share Mino Campobasso’s story with you. Mino leads Il Primo Pizza and Wings – as part owner, he oversees all the Il Primo restaurants from Sarasota County to Naples. His vision for the brand means a lot to me, both as a Neapolitan and as a parent. I hope you will be inspired and encouraged by it as well.
Tell us about yourself and your family.
I moved to Naples 25 years ago from Downers Grove, Illinois (western suburbs of Chicago). I met my wife, and we had three kids. Now, they are 15 (boy), 9 (boy), and 5 years old (girl). There’s a pretty big age gap between each kid, which has been interesting. We took our time, and we got to live with each one. We’d start missing the baby stage, look at each other, and say, “What’s one more?” We’re done now. Both of our boys are very heavily involved in basketball. My 9-year-old is heavily involved in football as well. My daughter just recently got involved in cheerleading.
Il Primo is so supportive of youth sports. Can you tell me a little bit about your “why” behind that level of support and investment?
Il Primo Pizza & Wings has restaurants from Sarasota County (North Port) down to Collier County (Naples), and all of those stores are heavily invested in those communities. It’s important to me to give back to the community through youth sports sponsorship. I’m heavily invested in the school systems as well. The kids there now are going to be running our communities in Southwest Florida – and beyond – when I get to retire. It’s important to me to make sure they get a good education.
I’m invested in our youth through funding and sponsoring sports and education, and by employing students. We employ a lot of high schoolers.
Tell me the Il Primo story.
My step dad created the brand in 1983 in Arizona. He sold those stores and then started popping up stores in Naples. He passed away in 2013, which is when I decided to take the reins and try to keep it going. We’ve been able to expand, opening two additional stores within the last several years. Our plan is to continue to grow.
What sets Il Primo apart from other restaurants in Naples?
Our business has changed over the past five years since COVID. We do more take-out business now. Where it used to be 60% dine-in business and 40% take-out, now those numbers are reversed. But what sets us apart is our focus on making our restaurants truly family friendly. Our vision is to provide a way for families to come and eat without breaking the bank. We have Disney movies playing; we have event nights where kids can come in and make their own pizzas; we have face painting nights. Everything about the restaurants is geared toward families. The idea is to let mom and dad come in and relax. We serve beer and wine only, which is intentional. When my step dad started the brand, he wasn’t interested in selling liquor. He always said, “If my restaurants get too rowdy, I’ll up the prices on beer and wine to keep Il Primo’s family environment.” Our restaurants are still geared toward the family and family togetherness.
At the end of the day, Il Primo Pizza & Wings is family-owned and operated. It’s not a corporation. We go to work every day to promote the family – for our employees and for our customers. We’re family -owned. I’m not the founder, and I’m not the owner of all the stores, but I oversee them all. But I run the business as if I was the founder. I’m proud of it.
You mentioned growing the business. Where do you see that growth happening?
We’re looking at possible new locations in Naples and Cape Coral, and we’d like to continue to grow north into Sarasota and Bradenton.
How do you maintain balance between your work and your family life?
I’m extremely blessed to have very good managers; they are the face of the company. That includes both kitchen and operations managers, some of whom have been with me for more than 10 years. That has made balance possible for me. There are certainly times when I’m working in the kitchen or the front counter in one of the stores. But, I can always break away and support my kids in their activities.
What advice do you have for other dads who are business owners in Southwest Florida?
It’s so important to understand that your kids are only young once, and that you can only control the controllables. My daughter is about to start kindergarten next year, and the little years go by so fast. I’d encourage other dads to enjoy it now. I have some older friends that tell me the same thing: “Enjoy it now. Once they leave the house, you’re going to miss it.”
I value being present for my family and to create memories with them. Life is short, and I want to be able to remember these stages of life with my kids. They mean everything to me. Without them, I have nothing.
What do you want for Father’s Day?
I want to go fishing with my kids. I want to spend the day with them out on the Gulf. I want perfect weather and a beautiful day out on the water.
To find out more about Il Primo’s menu and locations, and how it supports the Southwest Florida community, visit ilprimopizza.com. Happy Father’s Day!