About Us

Owner/operators Mike Santosuosso and his wife Debbie, who have been restaurateurs since 1971, have gone to great lengths to bring authentic Italy here to you in Strongsville, Ohio. Formerly Pat Catan's Italian Village, Mike and Debbie have carried on and even added to their many great Italian and family recipes for you to enjoy.

A brief history on Mike Santosuosso, and Italian Village, “I grew up in my father’s bar business,” Mike says. After leaving the family business, Mike chose a slightly different career path. He started working in a pizza shop at age fifteen, and Mike says, “I knew that was what I wanted to do.”

In 1971, after just a few years learning the pizza business, he opened up his own shop called Santo’s Pizza in Fairview Park, Ohio.

In 1977, Mike opened a full menu Santo’s Restaurant in Great Northern Shopping Center in North Olmsted, Ohio and operated there successfully until well into the 1990s.

Taking a break from owning his own business, Mike took a few corporate positions. After a few years Mike returned back to Cleveland and helped out his brothers with their business, Santo’s Italian Restaurant in Middleburg Heights, Ohio.

In May of 1999, Pat Catan called up Mike and asked him to run his restaurant for Pat.

In January of 2001, Mike assumed 100% ownership of the restaurant and renamed it to Italian Village.