Nora’s Wine Bar fights through bankruptcy, aiming to survive

Nora's Wine Bar & Osteria is open, it really is.

With its glass door ajar, blinds pulled up and music on, the popular 5-year-old Summerlin restaurant looked like it has any other day. Except that it's not any other day, and owners Marcello and Giovanni Mauro are fighting to survive in the tough Las Vegas restaurant industry.

"We're trying not to close, that's why we filed for bankruptcy," Marcello said. "It was the only way to protect us from the landlord."

The landlord in question is Peccole Nevada; the rent is $16,000 a month.

"It was fine when people were coming to the shopping center," Marcello said of the expense.

After paying rent "a couple of days late," Marcello said Nora's Wine Bar & Osteria sought Chapter 11 protection on May 13 so Peccole couldn't evict the restaurant from its space at 1031 S. Rampart Blvd.

Chapter 11, if granted, protects businesses or individuals from creditors while they reorganize their finances.

Marcello said Nora's business has dropped 30 percent from the past year, and the recent opening of Tivoli Village about a mile north on Rampart Boulevard is luring away customers in a market already whittled down by the recession.

"There's only so many people in the area," he said. "It takes from everybody, not just us."

Marcello said he's noticed people coming back to his retail neighbors like the Gap and Banana Republic carrying bags with return items far more often than in good times.

"It's just such weird times," he said. "You see this stuff that you never saw in the past."

Nora's is now paying its vendors cash on delivery and any long-term debt is placed on a temporary hold to give the restaurant breathing room. The Mauros also hope to negotiate a better deal with their landlord.

Both men said they're prepared to do what it takes to keep Nora's alive.

"It's our whole life," he said. "This is who we are. This is not only a business to us."

To help revive their business, the Mauro brothers have begun offering a $5 tasting menu from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays featuring items like stuffed lemon leaves, pizza and lamb baby back ribs. A free pasta tasting goes with each glass of wine.

"We feel that's really aggressive," Marcello said.

Giovanni also added new offerings to the main menu, such as a fried mozzarella done in the style of Naples. He also plans to keep customer favorites around, like the penne alla vodka and rollo di pollo.

"We're hoping it's going to make all the difference," Marcello said. "I've never felt so strongly about having to market."

On the administrative side, the Mauros had to lay off their general manager and executive chef, positions that Marcello and Giovanni have taken over, respectively.

Marcello estimated that they'll be able to save about $150,000 a year in expenses with recent operational changes.

Contact reporter Laura Emerson at
lemerson@lvbusinesspress.com or 702-380-4588.