Savannah Showed Up – How this new restaurant was welcomed with open arms

February 22, 2025

When Alicia Farrell and her husband, James Ciminillo, opened Veratina, their new Italian restaurant in Savannah, they had no idea just how welcoming the city would be. They expected the usual challenges of opening a new business—long hours, logistical headaches, and the slow process of winning over a new customer base. What they didn’t expect was the overwhelming support from the local community, which has made them feel right at home from day one.

A Community Unlike Any Other

“We have actually been completely blown away by the reception we’ve received,” Farrell says, still astonished by the kindness that has surrounded them. “Number one, by the other restaurant owners. We cannot believe them stopping in and obviously dining with us and also offering to assist us in various ways. They’re always saying, ‘If there’s anything you need, just let us know.'”

The restaurant industry is notoriously competitive, but in Savannah, Farrell has found camaraderie instead of rivalry. “I cannot even put into words how blown away I have been by how welcoming and helpful and kind they have been,” she says. Other small business owners have also extended their support, frequently visiting Veratina, promoting it on social media, and leaving glowing reviews.

Dish

Photos by @sv_images

“So many other small business owners have come in and said, ‘Oh, I own a business too.’ They’ll post about us. They’ll leave us good reviews. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming and incredibly kind,” she continues. “We were actually just thinking the other day about putting a post on our social media to thank all the other restaurant owners and small businesses because we’ve been so taken aback by how kind they have been.”

Savannah is famously known as the “Hostess City of the South,” a title that could easily be dismissed as a marketing gimmick. But Farrell’s experience suggests otherwise.

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Photos by @sv_images

The Heart of a Neighborhood

Beyond the restaurant industry, the local residents have also made a point of embracing Veratina.

While many restaurants rely heavily on tourists, especially in a destination city like Savannah, Farrell and Ciminillo have discovered that their customer base so far is overwhelmingly local.

“Almost everyone we’ve gotten is locals. And we absolutely love it. We love being that neighborhood spot,” Farrell says.

“We have a lot of people that actually, just within a few blocks, come here. We already have a lot of regulars, which completely warms our hearts that people are already wanting to come back.”

That kind of immediate local support isn’t something every restaurant experiences, but for Veratina, it has been a defining feature of their early success. “Especially the folks that live within a couple block radius. We have so many people that say, ‘Well, I can walk here. I just walk here, you know, whenever I’m craving something.’ So that’s been really good,” she adds. “The people that live close by, just within this couple block radius, have been also very welcoming and supportive. It’s been great.”

SCAD’s Presence and Promise

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is a major presence in the city, and its students, faculty, and staff often contribute significantly to the local economy. Though Veratina opened when students were on winter break, Farrell has already noticed a growing interest from the SCAD community.

“We’ve gotten a few students in so far, but we also did open when they were on their winter break,” she notes. “I think it’s still the beginning of the semester for them, so I think they’re probably getting settled in with their classes. I think maybe they’re also still using up their meal plan, which we completely understand.”

Dish

Photos by @sv_images

But it isn’t just students who have taken notice of Veratina. “We also have actually had a good bit of SCAD professors, some of the deans of some of the schools that come in. We have actually had them reach out about doing private events here, so they’ve also been really supportive. We’re happy to have them.”

Savannah’s Secret Ingredient

What is it about Savannah that makes it so uniquely welcoming? Farrell’s experience suggests that the city isn’t just friendly in name only—it’s an ingrained part of the culture.

For business owners moving to a new city, the challenge isn’t just about logistics or customer acquisition. It’s about finding a place that feels like home, a place where people genuinely care about your success. In Savannah, Farrell and Ciminillo have found that place.

As Veratina continues to establish itself, it’s clear that its foundation is built on more than just good food. It’s built on a community that has embraced it wholeheartedly, from fellow restaurateurs to neighborhood regulars. Farrell and Ciminillo may have come to Savannah to open a restaurant, but in the process, they’ve found something even more valuable—a city that truly welcomes its own.

Dish