UPDATE: Gino’s opening date has been pushed back to Wednesday, March 28.
When Gino Rivera began considering a location for a second Gino’s Bistro restaurant, he thought of Maple Valley, his former hometown.
“I enjoyed the community, and I remembered it being really beautiful,” said Rivera, who lived briefly near the Elk Run Golf Course about 17 years ago.
Rivera plans to open the second Gino’s Bistro on Wednesday, March 28, at Four Corners in the former Shakey’s Pizza storefront. His original Federal Way location has been open for about 10 years.
Gino’s Bistro will seat 105 people and serve Italian and Mediterranean entrees. From the bread to soup to pasta sauce, everything on the menu is homemade, Rivera said.
Customers will be able to order martinis and wine at a bar that will seat 30. A private room can be reserved for up to 20 people.
Pizza will also be on the menu. Rivera says he is happy to offer pizza as a memory of Shakey’s, a 30-year Maple Valley institution that went out of business recently when the owner died.
“Even when I lived here — I remember — if you want to go for pizza, you go to Shakey’s,” he said.
Unlike Shakey’s, Gino’s will offer a more upscale menu and atmosphere, with bistro-style butcher paper on linen tablecloths.
Rivera, who has four children, stresses that kids are welcome. The bistro will offer takeout — including both pizza and family-style meals in microwaveable containers. Gino’s also will offer full-service catering.
Rivera, 40, who immigrated from Peru at 18, says he worked at several Italian restaurants in the region before opening the bistro in Federal Way. He will serve as the primary chef in Maple Valley until he can train a replacement.
Not just his fond memories of Maple Valley, but also construction of new housing developments and the Fred Meyer complex persuaded Rivera to locate here, he said.
“We are very excited to come into this neighborhood. It has a lot of potential.”
I have been eating at Gino’s Bistro in Federal Way since it opened. Everyone in Maple Valley will love having a Ginos Bisto in their home town. When you go there, try the White Bianco Pizza. It is my favorite on the menu and nobody else in the state of WA can make it like Gino does. You will LOVE it!
Tom N
My favorite foods! yay!
Gino’s Bistro is where we go before almost anyplace else. The service is great and the food is the best. The martinis are made just the way you like them and Gino selects some of the finest wines. Maple Valley, you are in for a real treat. We will miss Gino while he sets up his new restaurant and trains his new employees, but he will provide a fantastic dining experience. Enjoy!
This is so cool. We love the Gino’s in Federal Way. They have the best pizza and the martinis are awesome too. Finally more options to eat in Maple Valley.
Gino’s Bistro is our home away from home… The Bruschetta is my favorite (with a sip of wine). Maple Valley is going to love having Gino’s Bistro!
I am so excited! We can WALK there. When are they opening?
Yeah! Looking forward to having more places to eat in Maple Valley.