September 13, 2025

Rigoletto Italian Bakery and Café Reopens After Fire

News Summary

Rigoletto Italian Bakery and Café in Virginia Beach has reopened after a fire caused extensive damage. The family-owned establishment, renowned for its Italian dishes and pastries, was affected in 2022 by electrical issues. Under new leadership, it has made a strong comeback with community support, offering a full menu, live music, and wine tastings. The reopening celebrates resilience, tradition, and innovation, ensuring the legacy continues for residents and visitors alike.

Virginia Beach

Rigoletto Italian Bakery and Café, a treasured institution in Virginia Beach, has officially reopened its doors after enduring a devastating fire that threatened its 20-year legacy. The café, located on Upton Drive, celebrated its grand reopening on December 12, welcoming back loyal customers and newcomers alike to experience its iconic homemade Italian dishes and pastries once again.

The fire, which occurred in 2022, was traced back to electrical problems with a refrigerated display case. The incident caused extensive damage to the building, not only impacting Rigoletto but also affecting neighboring businesses such as Blue Seafood and Spirits and Messman Law, which suffered from smoke damage. Despite these challenges, Rigoletto has made a stunning comeback under the new leadership of founder Gilda Di Domenico’s daughter, Jessie Guzman, and her husband, Victor.

With strong support from the community, the café has reinvigorated its offerings while maintaining the family legacy that it was built upon. Jessie Guzman, who views the café as a home rather than simply a business, is determined to keep her mother’s vision alive while also infusing new ideas and energy into the operation. Guzman is currently training new staff members in preparation for a full menu relaunch, which will highlight the restaurant’s scratch bakery and restaurant model, where all food is made in-house.

Italian Tradition Meets Modern Innovation

Founded nearly two decades ago, Rigoletto began as a small Italian pastry shop and has since transformed into a beloved neighborhood café. The establishment’s name pays homage to the opera “Rigoletto” by Giuseppe Verdi, further linking it to Gilda Di Domenico’s Italian roots. She immigrated to the United States with the goal of sharing the rich traditions and culture of Italy with the residents of Virginia Beach.

Rigoletto is renowned for its wide variety of Italian dishes, including Mediterranean linguine with olives, fresh tomatoes, and feta cheese, clams in white wine sauce, as well as delicious panini and made-to-order cannoli. Its popularity soared when it was featured on Guy Fieri’s television show, “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” in 2011, which boosted its reputation even further.

Community Commitment and Future Plans

The café has shown resilience throughout the recovery process, with customers rallying around the establishment in the aftermath of the fire. The support has been instrumental in the cafe’s recovery, and during the holiday season, Rigoletto plans to remain open most days, though it will be closed on Christmas Day. As a means of enhancing the dining experience, plans have been laid out to introduce wine tastings and live music in the near future.

With the transition of leadership, Gilda Di Domenico has expressed pride in her daughter’s ability to innovate while preserving the café’s cherished heritage. This commitment to maintaining tradition while adapting to modern tastes is a core focus as Rigoletto moves forward.

A Celebration of Resilience

The reopening of Rigoletto Italian Bakery and Café signifies more than just the revival of a local restaurant; it represents a continuation of family values, community commitment, and the enduring appeal of authentic Italian cuisine. As they move ahead, Rigoletto is poised to continue its legacy as a gathering place for food lovers in Virginia Beach, preserving its 20-year history while inviting a new chapter of memories.

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Author: STAFF HERE VIRGINIA BEACH WRITER

VIRGINIA BEACH STAFF WRITER The VIRGINIA BEACH STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HEREVirginiaBeach.com, your trusted source for actionable local news and information in Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach City, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with comprehensive coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—supported by years of expert reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates, while offering top reporting on high-profile events like the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival, East Coast Surfing Championship, and military homecoming celebrations, alongside key organizations such as the Virginia Aquarium, Virginia Beach Convention Center, and Oceana Naval Air Station, plus leading businesses in tourism and defense like Busch Gardens and Northrop Grumman, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREWilliamsburg.com, providing credible, in-depth insights into Virginia's vibrant landscape. HERE Virginia Beach HERE Williamsburg

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