Since April 1963, families and friends across Flint, Genesee County and beyond have been enjoying homemade Italian dishes at Mario’s Restaurant & Pizzeria in Flint. Thea restaurant is named after Mario Simoni, an Italian immigrant who opened the restaurant. After owning and running the popular eatery for 59 years, brothers Frank and Sergio Simoni sold the business in 2022 to Tim and Lori Lanphear.
Located on Fenton Road in Flint, directly across from the U.S. 23 Drive-In, the restaurant is filled regularly with families and friends. The front section has windows, booths and tables where diners have a view of the kitchen staff hard at work. In the center section is the bar area, with a cozy atmosphere that includes a friendly bar and TVs. The backroom is perfect for large families and groups who want the area to themselves and can be reserved for parties.
Since buying Mario’s in 2022, the Lanphears have kept the same ambiance, décor and the majority of menu items.
Recalling how this whole journey began, Lori said she and Tim were both active Realtors for more than 20 years. They had also been managing and running a restaurant in Fenton for four years prior to purchasing Mario’s.
The couple was well aware of Mario’s popularity and good food, since they too were regulars. Lori said it was one of their favorite places and that they’d go there every Saturday and sit in the bar area. “Most of the time, family members and friends would join us,” she said.
Lori said they saw a post on Facebook from Mario’s clarifying a rumor about the restaurant closing. The post said Mario’s was not closing: however, it was being listed for sale. “That got us talking about it and we decided to start the purchase process and see what happened,” Lori said.
It was an extremely busy and challenging time for the Lanphears. In addition to being Realtors and actively seeking to purchase their favorite restaurant, Tim had been diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer in 2019. After multiple rounds of chemo and a stem cell transplant in 2020, he rang the bell in June 2020 and has remained cancer-free.
On February 15, 2022, the Lanphears took ownership of Mario’s, on Tim’s birthday.
Since buying Mario’s in 2022, Tim and Lori Lanphear have kept the same ambiance, décor and the majority of menu items.
Photos: Sharon Stone
Knowing the restaurant had a well-established following, Tim and Lori acknowledged there could be some adjustments. “There were mixed emotions, because so many people have memories at Mario’s and they were afraid we were going to change everything,” Lori said. “We purchased the recipes and still use them to this day for the dough and sauces. It is what we loved about Mario’s, so we had no reason to change what we loved.”
After a few months, people began to see that Mario’s had the same staff and that the changes were just for maintaining the building and keeping things in good condition. The Lanphears quickly learned why things were done a certain way and what things needed to be adjusted to make the daily operation go as smoothly as possible.
The top favorite menu items include Mario’s Supreme Pizza and fish. They offer traditional fish & chips and baked fish.
Tim and Lori are proud when they say that some kitchen staff have been with Mario’s for more than 30 years. “It means a lot for us to keep the traditions of Mario’s going, and them being a part of it daily is wonderful,” she said. Lori added that they have a great group of servers and that Mario’s does not have the turnover that some restaurants experience. “We are all very close and supportive of each other,” she said.
Since purchasing the restaurant, the Lanphears have redone all four bathrooms, added more beers on tap, added new booths in the front room and new coolers, kitchen equipment and other items that help with running the restaurant.
“It means a lot for us to keep the traditions of Mario’s going.”
Lori Lanphear, co-owner
In addition to longtime menu items, they have added some new specialty pizzas, such as pickle, BLT and loaded baked potato. At certain times of the year, they’ll offer Flint Style Coney, Reuben and Brisket specialty pizzas.
As mentioned earlier, the backroom can be reserved and can accommodate up to 65 people. They offer two buffet options, and do not charge a room rental fee. Mario’s also offers to-go large pans of pasta, salad and bread, with each pan serving up to 25 people.
For the past two years, to show their appreciation to their staff, Tim and Lori have rented a bus and treated all their staff and a guest to a Detroit Tigers game. “We had so much fun that we did the same thing this year, which was absolutely amazing,” she said.
Lori said, “We are very blessed to have loyal customers, but our goal is to always bring in new people, as well.” They post specials on their social media pages. “We love to give back to the community as much as we can,” she said. As a bonus for fun, they periodically offer a kids pizza-making night, which always sells out within a day.
When asked what their favorite Mario’s menu item is, Tim said his top pick is pizza and Lori said her favorite is baked spaghetti.
From its humble beginnings in 1963 to its continued success under the care of Tim and Lori Lanphear, Mario’s Restaurant & Pizzeria remains a beloved community gem. With its tried-and-true recipes, loyal staff and welcoming atmosphere, Mario’s is more than just a place to eat – it’s a place where memories are made. Whether you’re a lifelong regular or a first-time visitor, one thing’s for sure: at Mario’s, you’ll always feel like family.
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