SEASON 15 / EPISODE 280
When life gives you lemons…The making of Gianni Russo’s State St.
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IN THIS CONVERSATION
The story behind the story.
In this captivating episode, we delve into the remarkable story of Gianni Russo and the making of his legendary State Street restaurant in Las Vegas. Transforming a modest realty office into a thriving after-hours speakeasy, Gianni turned lemons into lemonade, creating a hotspot that was the place to be from 6 PM to 6 AM. State Street became synonymous with glamour and entertainment, hosting iconic performances by Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley. Gianni shares his unique journey, revealing his unconventional methods for hiring a kitchen crew and recounting the highs and lows that led to the restaurant’s eventual closure. This episode is a tribute to ingenuity, resilience, and the golden era of Las Vegas nightlife.
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A reviewed transcript is not available for this release.
LAS VEGAS · THE RESTAURANT YEARS
State St.His own corner of Las Vegas.
Gianni’s Las Vegas story includes a place with his name on the menu: Gianni Russo’s State St. UNLV’s Special Collections preserves a menu from the 1980s, a tangible piece of that chapter. On the show, Gianni tells how he built the restaurant and recalls the late nights and personalities that passed through its doors.
From the archive: UNLV State St. menu ↗
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