When first-generation Italian immigrant Vito Carrieri started considering stepping away from the restaurant he had run in Mesa for two decades, he had no natural successor. His children were in California and were not interested in returning to take over for their retiring father.

But he did have friends in the restaurant business, namely Ryan and Alexis Vickery. Even before the couple met each other, they came from families who ate regularly at the restaurant. Alexis’ family even had vacationed with the Carrieris.