Cliffbreakers welcomes back familiar face

By Corina Curry

RRSTAR.COM

Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort and Cliffbreakers’ Lexington Hotel, announced at 2 p.m. today that former proprietor Jimmy Vitale will return from retirement to run the restaurant and hotel’s operations.

Over the past 30 years, Vitale has run some of the Rockford area’s most successful and popular restaurants including Cliffbreakers, Jungle Jim’s, St. James Envoy, Ziltzie’s and the Crystal Pistol.

“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to become reacquainted with Cliffbreakers’ many guests, old friends and its staff” said Vitale. “Cliffbreakers has been a special part of me for many years and it is something I have always had close to my heart.”

Michael Ellis, who bought Cliffbreakers from Vitale about two years ago added: “We are thrilled that Jimmy was willing to let other out-of-state opportunities pass by in order to lead our team. Losing his gift as a great restaurateur and an inviting host to another city would have been a terrible loss to Rockford.”

Ellis, who has served as general manager of Cliffbreakers since buying it, will step aside as GM effective immediately to allow Vitale to guide the operation.

“This is a perfect fit,” Ellis said of Vitale’s return. “We were interested to add to our management team, and Jimmy’s experience and familiarity with the mechanics of Cliffbreakers was precisely what we were looking for. For Jimmy, this presents an opportunity to remain close to while still care for his elderly parents. We struck the right deal over the weekend and could not be more pleased.”

With panoramic dining room windows and river-view decks, Cliffbreakers has been popular destination of choice for thousands of weddings and is home to many of the region’s largest and most important business and group functions.

Staff writer Corina Curry can be reached at ccurry@rrstar.com or 815-987-1395.

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