Oreste Tinucci left Asciano, Pisano, Italy, and arrived at Ellis Island in 1909. His eldest son, Louis Sr., followed in 1913; Oreste's wife and their youngest sons, Caesar and Charles, arrived in 1915. Their names are now recorded in the Ellis Island Memorial.
Louis Sr. and Marie Tinucci, along with Harold and Martha Johnson (Marie's sister) purchased Duke's Cafe in Inver Grove, MN in 1946, beginning the Tinucci tradition of food and hospitality. Louis Sr. and Marie sold the cafe and retired to St. Paul Park in 1955.
One year later, Louis Jr. and Patricia Tinucci opened the Country View Restaurant in Inver Grove. They purchased the Dairy Way Drive-In in Newport on May 1st, 1958, located on the site of present day Tinucci's Restaurant. Seven months later, they added a small dining room seating 55 people.
A fire destroyed the restaurant in 1974. Along with sons John, Mark and Greg, Louis and Pat decided to rebuild and the new 165-seat restaurant opened on March 5th, 1975.
Soon the Tinuccis would have to add on to the building in order to accommodate their growing business. On February 5th, 1986, the restaurant re-opened featuring a 300 seat dining room, a 60 seat private dining room, a new deli and a much larger kitchen.
In April of 1991, John, Mark and Gus bought the business; the third generation to be involved in the hospitality industry. The deli in Newport was expanded in September of 1994 with seating for 45.
In January of 2003 Tinucci's Woodbury Deli opended, serving the same great Tinucci's food in a new casual dining atmosphere, with carry-out always an option.
As a direct result of highway construction in Newport, the main dining room was closed from July 2003 until March 2004. The dining room was remodeled during this time and now serves as a banquet hall for private parties of up to 170 people. Today, the main dining room is also open Thursday, Friday and Saturday for dinner and Sunday for brunch.
In 2007, the MN Restaurant Association recognized Louie's accomplishments when they inducted him into the Hospitality Hall of Fame.
Tinucci's Restaurant celebrated 50 years of business in 2008. The anniversary was marked with a celebration at the restaurant in Newport in July, 2008.
Thank you for the loyal patronage and friendship
you have shown to the Tinucci family and employees since 1958. We look
forward to serving you in our deli's in Newport and Woodbury, our Newport
banquet hall and restaurant and at parties catered off-site!
