Virgola - Oysters & Italian Wine Bar Franchise Overview

About Virgola - Oysters & Italian Wine Bar

Virgola’s innovative cocktails and exclusively Italian wine list, including its own Virgola Prosecco, take you on a tour of Italy. Affordably priced oysters, for which Virgola has become known, accompany selections of crudo, caviar and imported Italian specialties - all carefully curated and produced in a heat-free kitchen. Initially one of Greenwich Village’s best kept secrets, Virgola's success has led Mr. Marazzo to franchise the Virgola - Oysters & Italian Wine Bar concept nationwide.

Franchise History

Virgola - Oysters & Italian Wine Bar, a unique dining experience established in Manhattan's Greenwich Village, is expanding its business operations by offering franchises throughout the United States. Twenty years in the restaurant industry led owner, Joseph Marazzo, to create a distinct oyster bar concept that has gained local and national media attention. Vacationing in a coastal town near Rome, Joseph was inspired by his first serving of oysters. Marazzo returned home determined to build a place where he could recapture his experience on the beach, even if in a dramatically different setting. He discovered and personally restored an 1800’s alley in the heart of Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, where he opened Virgola - Oysters & Italian Wine Bar. Motivated by neighborhood residents’ fond memories, Joseph repurposed the cozy, six foot wide space in a way that is artistic, intimate and comfortable but still evokes the history of what was affectionately called "the alley".