Valentino's

Valentino's is a regional Italian restaurant brand based in Lincoln, Nebraska. The business was founded in 1957 by the Gates family and developed as a locally rooted restaurant operation serving pizza and other Italian-American foods. Unlike the globally recognized fashion house with a similar name, Valentino's is a separate American food-service brand whose activities have been concentrated primarily in the Great Plains. A major ownership and growth transition occurred in 1971, when the restaurant was purchased by two Lincoln families. Under the new ownership, Valentino's began franchising additional locations, allowing the brand to expand beyond its original restaurant footprint while remaining closely associated with Nebraska. The franchise model became an important part of its regional presence. Valentino's also experimented with adjacent formats. In 1982, it opened a pizza-by-the-slice business and expanded that concept to 45 units before selling it in 1985. This episode reflected an effort to reach customers through a faster, more convenience-oriented format than the traditional full-service restaurant. The company later added carry-out locations, opening its first carry-out store in 1990. During the early 2000s, many of the brand's full-scale restaurants were converted to a buffet concept. This format emphasized self-service dining and enabled Valentino's to offer pizza and related Italian-American dishes in a setting suited to families and groups. According to the cited reference material, Valentino's had 31 locations in Nebraska, one location in Kansas, and one location in South Dakota as of 2026. Its operating footprint therefore remains regional rather than national or international. The brand's identity is based on familiarity, family-oriented dining, pizza, buffet service, and long-term recognition in Nebraska and neighboring states.

Valentino's began in 1957 in Lincoln, Nebraska, where it was established by the Gates family as an Italian restaurant business. Its early development placed the company within Nebraska's independent and regional restaurant sector, with pizza and Italian-American food forming the core of its offering. In 1971, two Lincoln families purchased the restaurant. The change in ownership marked an important stage in Valentino's development because the business subsequently began franchising additional locations. Franchising allowed the brand to grow beyond its original site while retaining a strong geographic concentration in Nebraska and the surrounding region. The company tested a dedicated pizza-by-the-slice format in 1982. That business expanded to 45 units before being sold in 1985. Although the format was not retained within Valentino's permanently, the episode demonstrated the brand's willingness to pursue alternative operating models and more convenient methods of serving pizza customers. Valentino's opened its first carry-out store in 1990. The carry-out format complemented the existing restaurant business by serving customers seeking food away from the traditional dining room. In the early 2000s, many of the brand's full-scale restaurants were converted to buffet operations. The buffet model became a significant part of Valentino's identity, combining pizza and other Italian-American foods with self-service dining for families and groups. The available reference material describes Valentino's as a continuing regional chain. As of 2026, it operated 31 locations in Nebraska, along with one location in Kansas and one in South Dakota. This footprint indicates that the company remains focused on a limited multi-state territory rather than pursuing broad national expansion. Its historical trajectory is therefore defined by local origins, family ownership and stewardship, franchising, experimentation with pizza-by-the-slice and carry-out formats, and the later emphasis on buffet restaurants.

• 2000

  Buffet conversion period begins

  [1]Valentino'sen.wikipedia.org

  During the early 2000s, many full-scale Valentino's restaurants were converted to the buffet concept.

• 1990

  First carry-out store opens

  [1]Valentino'sen.wikipedia.org

  Valentino's opened its first carry-out location, adding a convenience-oriented format to its restaurant operations.

• 1985

  Pizza-by-the-slice business is sold

  [1]Valentino'sen.wikipedia.org

  After expanding the pizza-by-the-slice concept to 45 units, Valentino's sold the business.

• 1982

  Pizza-by-the-slice business opens

  [1]Valentino'sen.wikipedia.org

  Valentino's launched a pizza-by-the-slice business that later grew to 45 units.

• 1971

  Ownership changes and franchising begins

  [1]Valentino'sen.wikipedia.org

  Two Lincoln families purchased Valentino's, after which the company began franchising additional locations.

• 1957

  Valentino's is founded

  [1]Valentino'sen.wikipedia.org

  The Gates family founded Valentino's in Lincoln, Nebraska, establishing the restaurant brand that would become a regional Italian-American chain.

A regional, family-oriented Italian-American restaurant brand centered on pizza, buffet dining, and convenient carry-out service.

• Restaurant food · 1957

  Pizza

  Pizza is the central food associated with Valentino's restaurant business. It is served through the brand's restaurant, buffet, and carry-out formats, and has supported the company's development from a single Nebraska operation into a regional chain.

• Buffet dining

  Pizza buffet

  The buffet format became increasingly important during the early 2000s, when many of Valentino's full-scale restaurants were converted to buffet operations. It provides self-service access to pizza and related Italian-American dishes and is particularly suited to family and group dining.

• Takeout food · 1990

  Carry-out pizza

  Valentino's added carry-out locations to complement its dine-in restaurants. The first carry-out store opened in 1990, extending the brand's service model to customers seeking pizza and other meals for consumption away from the restaurant.

• Quick-service food · 1982

  Pizza by the slice

  Valentino's introduced a pizza-by-the-slice business in 1982. The concept expanded to 45 units before being sold in 1985 and is therefore a historical rather than a current flagship offering in the available source material.

• 2000

  Conversion of restaurants to buffet operationsGeneration change

  Background

  Valentino's adjusted its full-scale restaurant model during the early 2000s.

  Action taken

  Many full-scale restaurants were converted to the buffet concept.

  Aftermath

  The buffet format became a defining element of Valentino's regional restaurant offering.

  Source

• 1990

  Introduction of carry-out locationsStrategy

  Background

  The established restaurant chain added a format intended for customers who wanted to take food away.

  Action taken

  Valentino's opened its first carry-out store.

  Aftermath

  Carry-out became part of the brand's multi-format operating model.

  Source

• 1982

  Launch of pizza-by-the-slice formatProduct launch

  Background

  Valentino's explored a faster and more convenience-oriented way to sell its core pizza product.

  Action taken

  The company opened a pizza-by-the-slice business and expanded it to 45 units.

  Aftermath

  The business was sold in 1985.

  Source

• 1971

  Move toward franchisingStrategy

  Background

  Following the purchase of Valentino's by two Lincoln families, the company sought to expand beyond its existing restaurant operations.

  Action taken

  Valentino's began franchising additional locations.

  Aftermath

  Franchising supported the brand's development as a regional chain, particularly across Nebraska and nearby states.

  Source

1. 1Valentino'sen.wikipedia.org