by Danelle Dodds, Exhibit City News
Piero’s Italian Cuisine’s storied legacy is as rich as their Sunday Gravy. Since 1982, Piero’s has served traditional Italian food in Las Vegas with an old-school flair. Dishing its famous Osso Buco to Frank Sinatra, Steve Lawrence, and Jerry Lewis, Piero’s quickly became the hot spot for colorful characters and even a few shady ones. A haunt for rumored mobsters and their crew, the restaurant’s buttery leather booths were the backdrop for scenes in Martin Scorsese’s Casino. The oak-paneled entry of the joint is the spot where two infamous New York “Mafia cops” were arrested in 2005 before they could even tuck into their linguine and clams.
Rather than shy away from its peppered history and fanfare, Piero’s embraces its vibrant storyline. At the heart of its chapters is the Glusman family. Freddie Glusman opened the restaurant with his beloved wife, Jeanne, in 1982. It was a small, dimly lit spot on Karen Ave, seating roughly 70 guests in a 1400-square-foot space. The magic of the Glusmans and their old-world Italian recipes clicked with the locals; their reputation grew. When they moved to the current location on Convention Center Drive in 1987, their loyal customers followed, and they brought friends.
The restaurant now seats 375 guests and has grown to include private rooms and the infamous Monkey Bar. (Named after the monkey business that sometimes could be found in the neighborhood, the bar boasts monkey-themed artwork to celebrate its moniker.) Freddie and Jeanne’s son, Evan Glusman, has taken over the reins of the operation and developed it into a classic Las Vegas eatery that straddles the line between old and new.
Evan grew up in Piero’s. As a child, he played among the leather booths. As a teen, Evan worked in the kitchen and helped prep food. Today, he continues to maintain the legacy of the restaurant that long-time, devoted customers expect while delivering an elevated experience for the new generation of impressive clientele. Celebs like Justin Timberlake and Carrie Underwood have dined there, as have former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. It’s not unusual to see sports greats from the Las Vegas Golden Knights, Raiders, and UFC.
Evan’s most ambitious and influential development includes capitalizing on the convention opportunities from the restaurant’s proximity to the Las Vegas Convention Center. Piero’s is ripe for hospitality and offers a unique alternative exhibit space with a prime position directly across from the West Hall entrance.
In recent years, corporate groups have begun taking advantage of the offerings available steps from one of the nation’s largest convention centers. In addition to the restaurant, Piero’s parking lot provides up to 20,000 square feet of unencumbered outdoor convention space. Evan brokered opportunities to include full buyouts of all areas, creating a stand-alone exhibit floor with Piero’s signature and unparalleled hospitality. The capacity for guests now swells up to 1500 guests between indoor and outdoor environments. Piero’s parking lot is weight-bearing and has programmable LED signage that faces one of the busiest convention streets in town. Food and beverages are provided by the restaurant, which maintains the level of quality and care that it is known for. While his Veal Chop Parmesan and Garbage Caesar Salad are to die for, Evan and his executive chef are open to collaborating with guests to customize a menu that suits their event.
During CES 2022 and 2023, Valeo embraced Piero’s ample space as additional exhibit space during the high-profile convention. They transformed the lot into a demo track and a hospitality area where guests were able to experience their innovative technology in a dedicated environment. Without the convention center’s confines, Valeo created a customized show floor dedicated to its brand.
Despite the restaurant’s growing popularity as an alternative space to standard convention halls, Evan still views the venue as synonymous with the glittering city of the desert. “When you go to other major cities, there is always an iconic restaurant that you have to experience to taste the flavor of the city. Piero’s has become that place in Las Vegas.”
This story originally appeared in the Q1 2024 issue of Exhibit City News, p. 66. For original layout, visit https://issuu.com/exhibitcitynews/docs/ecn_q1_2024.
