Burlco Fixture Villari's Featured On Food Network Wednesday

“A father … a business partner … a friend” are the words Paul Villari III uses to describe his dad, restaurateur Paul Villari Jr., of Cinnaminson, who died last month after a battle with lung cancer.

The younger Villari took the reins of the longtime family business, Villari’s Bistro, Bar and Grill, formerly Villari’s Milmarian, and recently worked with producers of the Food Network to re-establish what his family has cultivated into a Route 73 institution for more than 60 years.

And, the younger Villari said he was glad his dad was around to see it all happen.

Villari’s will be featured on the Jan. 19 inaugural episode of “Restaurant: Impossible.” The series stars Robert Irvine of “Dinner: Impossible,” using his creativity and resourcefulness along with a lot of muscle in his fight to rescue restaurants and give hope to the owners and their employees.

“We ended up choosing Villari’s for the family story, strong owner personality, and the fact that we thought there were tangible issues to address within the show,” said co-executive producer Matt Berkowitz.

In an interview with Irvine, he said his first impression of the Palmyra restaurant and bar was that of “disjointed colors, old family pictures and the carpet stinking.”

The cast and crew had two days and only $10,000 to rehab the building, rework the menu, retrain the staff and market the new-and-improved eatery.

“There was a lot of work,” Irvine said. “We wanted to incorporate the family history because it was a big deal.”

The restaurant’s history begins in the 1920s when Paul Villari Sr. and his wife Natalie opened Villari’s Bakery on Market Street in Palmyra. They, along with their seven children who lived in Palmyra, delivered bread to neighbors in Riverton, Palmyra and Cinnaminson.

In 1948, the Villaris opened the Milmarian restaurant, fondly known as the “Mil,” which was named for their daughters Mildred, Mary and Ann. Sons Placido, Paul Jr., Joseph and John ran the restaurant. After their parents’ deaths, the brothers took over the restaurant and later Paul Jr. and Paul III bought the brothers’ interest in the business.

Family still plays a big part at Villari’s as Paul III’s brothers help run the place, which, Irvine said was in dire need of updating despite resistance from the family.

“It was a classical Italian look,” Villari III said. “I didn’t think it needed attention.”

“I took the bullet a lot to make it enjoyable for the audience,” Paul Villari III said, adding, “Irvine fired me.”

A trained chef, Villari III was asked to step down and hire someone who could add some creativity to the traditional Italian menu. The selection process will be featured in the show.

While Villari III hired his replacement, walls and chairs were being painted, carpets were being cleaned, family photos were being enhanced and decorators, producers and business owners were getting on each others’ nerves trying to complete the two-day renovation in time for a grand re-opening on May 16, 2010.

Decorators Michelle and Fadi of New York City created a red wall adorned with large, white plates opposite a gallery of enlarged vintage photos enhanced with shades of green and red. A banquet room was completely repainted and banners of red fabric are illuminated with backlighting.

“It’s upscale. It’s lighter, airy, more modern,” said Ron Andretta of Palmyra.

He and his wife Janet have been dining at Villari’s for years.

“But it’s the food that counts,” he said.

Producer Marc Summers announced Villari’s grand re-opening on WMMR radio and Villari III said, “The phones exploded.”

A total of 360 reservations were taken for the May 16 dinner. Afterward, patrons walked away with full bellies and some with paint on their pants.

Some of the newly painted chairs were not completely dry, Villari III said.

“It was totally Hollywood,” he said. “It’s going to make for a funny TV program.”

The renovations and Food Network show made his dad smile, Villari III added.

“He was such a sweet, sweet man,” Irvine said of Paul Villari Jr. “He was an awesome guy. I dealt with him every day.”

He and his wife, Helen, “totally lose it,” when the renovations were finally revealed, Irvine added.

“I want it to be perfect,” said Irvine who presented the idea for the show to Food Network. “This is someone’s livelihood. This is a restaurant in distress. There are emotions of frustrations and anger. Egos are bruised, but then they realize I’m here to help them.”

Villari’s TV debut on Jan. 19 will not come with great fanfare at Villari’s.

Paul Villari III said he just wants to be at home with his mom and daughter to watch.

“It will be good to see dad again,” he said.