Worthy Convos: Gigi Howell on the Spirit of Margie’s

There isn’t a love quite like the love a small community has for a local spot. Especially if that spot has been feeding hungry families authentic, home-style Italian cooking for as long as most people can remember. Margie’s Original Italian Kitchen is that local spot for residents of Westland, and for Gigi Howell and Bourke Harvey. As the partners behind the aptly named Westland Restaurant Group, which owns JD’s Hamburgers, the two are excited to continue the “spirit of Margie’s” as its new owners, which Howell expects to reopen in December.

From classic American hamburgers to authentic, home-style Italian, how did you decide it was time for Westland Restaurant Group to take on something new?

Truth is, we have been wanting to do both. We just got our hands on the burger real estate before the Italian spot. Margie’s has been a big part of the families of Westland Restaurant Group and this has been a dream of ours for a long time.

Westland is a small but hungry community. What else do you have in store for this area?

I don’t want to give it all away…but aside from JDs, Margie’s and a couple of other concepts not yet being discussed with others, we will definitely bring some Mexican food to the area!

Ironically, you are renovating two restaurants at once. JD’s was hit by a storm and Margie’s is getting a face lift. How do you manage the chaos?

Chaos is exactly right. Having incredible partners and the unwavering loyalty of an amazing staff makes this time in our development extremely more manageable than it should be. Is it a balancing act? Sure. But we have a lot of spotters.

You talk about maintaining the spirit of Margie’s. How will you do that?

I grew up in Margie’s Italian Gardens… when Tina, Margie’s mother, and Margie owned it. Margie was a part of our family. So much so, I thought I was Italian until I was about ten.

My mother, my aunt and my uncle all had their first jobs working directly for Margie. I know what it felt like to be there one to two times a week. I want to make sure everyone feels the way I did when growing up there. You were simply a guest who was made to feel at home. And you got fed well while settled in.

How will operating an Italian kitchen differ from operating an American kitchen?

Not much different at all! Love and care in every dish.

When will Margie’s reopen its doors?

We are probably looking at closer to Christmas. Buon Natale!

How did Westland Restaurant Group start?

Bourke and I met 25 years or so ago when my mom worked for him. We knew then we would work together someday. And we knew it would be a restaurant. Our dreams grew together and here we are!