Justin Fox Burks
Ronnie Grisanti
Restaurateur Ronnie Grisanti, 79, died Friday June 30.
Grisanti, owner of Ronnie Grisanti’s Italian Restaurant in Collierville, grew up in the restaurant business. He worked for his father and grandfather at their restaurant, Grisanti’s on Main, across from Central Station.
The popular, gregarious restaurant owner who seemingly knew every notable in Memphis opened his first restaurant in the early 1980s on Union at Marshall by Sun Studios before moving to Beale Street. He then moved his restaurant to Poplar near the viaduct before opening his Collierville location about four years ago in Sheffield Antiques Mall.
Grisanti leaves three sons, Dino, Judd, and Alex Grisanti; a brother, Frank Grisanti; a sister, Dee Grisanti; and nine grandchildren.
