J&S Italian Villa in Hot Springs is under new ownership. Hospitality veteran Saddiq Mir purchased J&S Italian Villa in April 2022. Mir joins his wife, Jeannie, as new owners of the restaurant located at 4332 Central Avenue in Hot Springs, where it has been operating for over 20 years.
Mir brings a storied career in hospitality to the area. Since 1990, Mir has sought to bring his inviting brand of service to guests at destinations including the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in San Francisco and New Orleans, Omni Hotel in Houston, The Golden Nugget Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas, Gaylord Texan, Gaylord Rockies in Denver and the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. Prior to purchasing J&S, Mir served as vice president of Hospitality at Oaklawn Racing Casino and Resort where he was tasked with overseeing the recent expansion including Hotel Spa and Food & Beverage operations.
“We have fallen in love with Hot Springs,” mused Jeannie Mir. “With our backgrounds in hospitality, it’s always been a dream of ours to open up our own business. So when the opportunity to purchase J&S Italian Villa arrived, like our names Jeannie and Saddiq, we said it was a sign and meant to be for us.”
According to the new owners, the name will remain the same, but the business will undergo a series of improvements. Renovations won’t be limited to the interior of the restaurant. The restaurant will continue to focus on Italian cuisine, but new dishes and regional delicacies will be added. Their hope is that guests will come for a “fun, trendy and unforgettable experience” in addition to the food, wine, and cocktails.
“We believe in genuine and gracious service. We want to get to know our guests, serve our community and take care of our locals. I have a motto that shapes the way I work: The answer is yes, now what is your question?”
The Mirs hope to reopen the restaurant this summer, as early as mid-June. They are currently interviewing for all positions including chef and sous chef to lead the kitchen, or as Saddiq calls it, “The Heart of the House.” Updates on
the reopening will be available at their website jandsitalian.com.
Interested applicants can contact Saddiq and Jeannie Mir at info@jandshospitality.com
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