Romano Italian Grill Downtown officially celebrated its grand opening on Tuesday, September 22, with an evening that brought business, food, music, community, and celebration under one roof. The Greater Savannah Black Chamber of Commerce led the ribbon-cutting celebration, welcoming community members, business leaders, elected officials, content creators, and supporters to commemorate the restaurant’s newest Savannah location.
Located at 2019 Habersham Street, Romano Grill Downtown is part of a locally owned restaurant brand that also operates locations in Rincon and Port Wentworth. The restaurant serves a variety of Italian favorites, including pizza, pasta, sandwiches, salads, and desserts.
The grand opening ran from 4 to 7 p.m., with the official ribbon cutting taking place at 5 p.m. From the beginning of the celebration, guests filled the restaurant to experience the new location and support the Romano team. 
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson joined the celebration along with other elected officials and community leaders, helping commemorate the restaurant’s expansion and investment in Savannah. The celebration extended well beyond the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony. DJ Ash of Afrohangs provided music throughout the event, creating an energetic atmosphere as guests mixed, connected, and enjoyed the restaurant.
For the Greater Savannah Black Chamber of Commerce, the event reflected the Chamber’s approach to grand openings: creating an experience that introduces businesses to the community and encourages people to return after the ribbon has been cut.
“A grand opening should be the beginning of a relationship between a business and the community it serves,” said Moncello Stewart, President and CEO of the Greater Savannah Black Chamber of Commerce. “Seeing elected officials, business leaders, influencers, and community members come through those doors to support Romano was a great example of what can happen when we intentionally create opportunities for businesses to connect with the people around them.”
The turnout also provided Romano Italian Grill Downtown with an opportunity to showcase the restaurant and its hospitality firsthand. Guests gathered throughout the evening to eat, network, take photos, create content, and celebrate the business before coming together for the ceremonial ribbon cutting. 
The GSBCC placed special emphasis on creating an event that felt like a true celebration rather than a brief ceremony.
“We wanted people to walk in, experience Romano, enjoy themselves, and leave knowing there was a new business in the community that they could come back and support,” said Tabitha Donnell, GSBCC Director of Operations & Business Development. “The turnout was incredible, but what I loved most was seeing so many different parts of Savannah in the same space. We had elected officials, entrepreneurs, Chamber leaders, customers, and community supporters all celebrating this business. That’s what we want our grand openings to feel like.”
The event also generated media attention following the celebration. Connect Savannah and WJCL featured photo coverage of the September 22 ribbon cutting, documenting the gathering and the GSBCC’s participation in the occasion.
As the evening came to a close, the significance of the celebration extended beyond the ceremonial ribbon. For Romano Italian Grill Downtown, it marked another chapter in the company’s continued growth. For the GSBCC, it was another opportunity to connect a business directly with the community and help create visibility that can continue long after opening day. 
The Greater Savannah Black Chamber of Commerce congratulates the entire Romano Italian Grill Downtown team on a successful grand opening and encourages the Savannah community to continue supporting the restaurant, sharing their experiences, and helping turn a successful opening into lasting success.