Passing the pizza torch: Longtime Gambino’s owners bid farewell to restaurant business
Contributed photo
Tonganoxie Gambino’s employees gather for a photo Sunday as they send off Ryan and Jamie Boden. The Bodens’s last day owning the restaurant was Sunday. At bottom left is new owner Michael Wheeler.For Ryan and Jamie Boden, Sunday afternoon sparked a stroll down memory lane from a steady stream of well-wishers.
It stands to reason the couple would greet so many during a two-hour so-long open house at Gambino’s Pizza in Tonganoxie.
After all, Ryan started operating the restaurant more than 20 years ago and then he and Jamie scripted a “pizza love story,” as Jamie called it, roughly 16 years ago.
Sunday marked the couple’s final day of ownership, as Ryan and Jamie are embarking on their next chapter in life.
Shawn F. Linenberger/Staff
Jamie Boden gets a hug from employee Sage Isaacs on Sunday afternoon during a farewell open house for Jamie and husband, Ryan. The couple have sold Gambino’s in Tonganoxie after several years operating the restaurant.
“There was a wide variety of people coming through, so that was good to see,” Jamie said after Sunday’s open house.
Ryan estimated that “a couple hundred” employees have worked at the company through the years, and 75% have been high school students.
“Jamie has a way of taking a high school kid and making them feel this job is very important,” Ryan explained. “And it is.”
Shawn F. LInenberger/Staff
Genesis Schools students made cards for the Bodens. 4-H members also recently made cards for the couple.
The couple spoke of parents of their high school students wishing them well Sunday. The couple got a bit emotional recounting the parents telling them “we just want to thank you for being the best bosses for my kids.”
Genesis Schools students made cards wishing the Bodens well. By the end of the open house, a jar became full of neon notes with special messages from customers and former employees.
Jamie said the couple will read the notes during a relaxing night near the lake.
The two are making their way to the Sunrise Beach, Mo., area in the Ozarks.
They have a residence there and, as part of their next chapter in life, will focus on a Vrbo vacation rental house next door at the lake called RJ Anchors Away.
Their Gambino’s restaurant got its start in the retail center where FasTrax operates on the east side of Tonganoxie. They moved to the current location at 1208 Front St. a few years later.
Shawn F. Linenberger/Staff
People put well-wishes inside a jar at the farewell reception for Ryan and Jamie Boden.
Gambino’s became a big community supporter, whether for school events, fundraisers and more. Tonganoxie Chamber Commerce named the restaurant business of the year when that organization existed. The current Tonganoxie Business Association also selected Gambino’s for annual awards, as did Tonganoxie USD 464.
“That was our big success,” Ryan explained. “The schools and just giving to the community and them supporting us back.”
Ryan said the restaurant was fortunate to have that support year in and year out. He said the local restaurant had just one year when sales weren’t better than the previous year. That was in 2009, when the country was dealing with the Great Recession. Sometimes sales increases weren’t by much, but still pointed in the right direction, he said.
The COVID-19 pandemic provided a new set of challenges, but the couple adapted and actually employed more people with the pandemic and the move to drive-thru, carryout and delivery only. The restaurant offers a carryout salad bar and rental of the dining area for events.
Michael Wheeler takes over restaurant ownership. His family has lived in Tonganoxie the last several years and he has extensive experience in the restaurant industry. Fittingly, his daughters have been Gambino’s employees under the Bodens.
Ryan was excited to hand the business over to Wheeler, whom Ryan said understands the importance of giving back to the community.
“He’s a really good dude,” Ryan said.
Shawn F. Linenberger/Staff
Brandon Stimach gives Jamie Boden a hug Sunday during a farewell reception at Gambino’s.
Ryan, who graduated from Seaman High School in Topeka, started at the Eudora Gambino’s where is brother has been the longtime owner. Jamie, who is from Eudora, met Ryan when she started working at the Tonganoxie location. They’ve known each other 16 years and married eight years ago. The couple just learned that another pizza love story found just the right ingredients at the Tonganoxie Gambino’s. Two employees who got their start in high school recently got married — and it was the same day as the Bodens’ anniversary.
Ryan and Jamie said they would miss the community for different reasons.
For Jamie, it will be the planning of community events such as visits with Santa at the restaurant and having the platform to do things in the community.
“And teaching the new kids coming,” Jamie said. “You’ll always remember your first job.”
Ryan is proud that they could offer a solid product at a fair price. People generally are in a good mood when they come through the front door because they’re ready to eat.
“I’m gonna miss the public the most,” Ryan said. “There’s a lot of good people in Tonganoxie.”