Video: Longtime Dining Favorite Back In Business Two Plus Years After Tornado

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – As a guitarist strummed and sang the blues, customers were ordering pizza and Greek salad, while Voz Vanelli was in his element, on opening day.

How’s it going?
“Fab, fab and guess what? Fabulous,” Vanelli said.

It has been nearly two and a half years since a tornado ripped through Vanelli’s restaurant on North Gloster Street.   Voz vowed to rebuild, and earlier this year, he began renovating a building in downtown Tupelo.  Vanelli’s Bistro features the restaurant’s famed pizza.  The menus are displayed on huge video monitors, and there is even an animated feature pitting the well known “Pizza Man” against the tornado.

Voz says it has been a long road since everything changed on that April day in 2014.

“I want to thank all the people of Tupelo, you have been patient with me, it’s taken a lot to get going, and thank you so much for wanting Vanelli’s back and here we are,” Vanelli said.

Debbie Brangenberg is president of Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association.  She believes Vanelli’s Bistro will be a great addition to the area.

“I’ve always felt like the product Voz had, with Vanelli’s , was a perfect fit for downtown, it just adds so much atmosphere, especially with the live music , which is what we’re trying to cultivate in Tupelo,” Brangenberg said.

Customers are glad Vanelli’s is back in business.

“Absolutely love it, if you have never had it before, need to come down here and get you some,” said Bjorn Hermansen.

“Everybody’s been waiting more than two years, I think once the word’s out, people are going to come around,” said Will Cockrell.

“I had the Athenian, it was fabulous and I had a salad and vegetables were great too,” said Anne Cockrell.

For now, Vanelli’s Bistro will be opened Monday through thursday, from 10 till 3.   Friday and Saturday from 10 until nine.  As Voz says that is subject to change.

www.vanellis.com