How Partnerships Helped Il Panino Grow From Struggling Startup to Successful Restaurant

Il Panino owner Themistocles Vlahoulis explains how mentoring and student consulting helped him improve marketing, solve business problems and open a second location.

Despite his economics degree and ownership of several restaurants, Themistocles “Lakis” Vlahoulis, owner of Il Panino Café and Grill in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, faced some struggles when he first opened shop. But he got some unexpected help from two sources: Boston restaurateur Frank DePasquale, who allowed Vlahoulis to use the same name as DePasquale's wildly successful North End restaurant, and teams of Northeastern University business students, who helped Vlahoulis with his website and social media presence and other challenges.  Today, with business thriving, Vlahoulis has opened a second location. He recently shared his thoughts on these successful partnerships with EIX's Kim Eddleston.