Business News

Gemini Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary

Posted on August 23, 2019

On Wednesday, September 9, 2009, Gemini opened its doors. A few days earlier, husband-and-wife partners Ryan and Anna O’Donnell of Ballyhoo Hospitality got married. “It was our first build-out and originally we planned to open Gemini before the wedding,” says Anna of the coinciding of the two big events. “But as all restaurant owners and operators know, openings don’t always go as planned.”

In just one year, the couple signed a lease for Gemini, got married and opened the doors of Ballyhoo’s first concept. “We drove up to Kohler, Wisconsin, the weekend before, got married and drove back that night and went straight to the restaurant to make sure everything was good and moving along,” recalls Ryan. “Ironically, we had a very intimate preview event a couple of days prior. Our closest friends and family attended the friends-and-family dinner then went straight up to Kohler to celebrate our wedding.”

As Gemini celebrates a 10-year milestone, Ballyhoo Hospitality is excited for what the future holds not just for its first restaurant but its other concepts, Coda Di Volpe, Walton Street Kitchen + Bar and its newest venue, Old Pueblo Cantina, slated to open later this summer. Ryan and Anna have expanded, too: They now have three sons.

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