J&S Italian Villa in Hot Springs gets new owners, upgrades

Jeannie and Saddiq Mir have purchased J&S Italian Villa in Hot Springs and the couple have plans to improve the interior and menu.

The restaurant is located at 4332 Central Avenue in Hot Springs and has been in operation for over 20 years.

Saddiq Mir is a hospitality industry veteran with over thirty years of experience, most recently as VP of Hospitality at Oaklawn Racing Casino and Resort, where he was tasked with overseeing the recent expansion including Hotel Spa and Food & Beverage operations.

Since 1990, Saddiq has worked in the hospitality industry at destinations including the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in San Francisco and New Orleans, Omni Hotel in Houston, The Golden Nugget Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas, Gaylord Texan, Gaylord Rockies in Denver and the Hilton Anatole in Dallas.

“We have fallen in love with Hot Springs,” Jeannie Mir said. “With our backgrounds in hospitality, it’s always been a dream of ours to open up our own business. So when the opportunity to purchase J&S Italian Villa arrived, like our names Jeannie and Saddiq, we said it was a sign and meant to be for us.”

Though the name will remain the same, the business will undergo a series of improvements. Interior renovations will take place and new dishes and regional delicacies will be added.

“We believe in genuine and gracious service. We want to get to know our guests, serve our community, and take care of our locals. I have a motto that shapes the way I work: The answer is yes, now what is your question?” Saddiq Mir said.

The Mirs plan to reopen the restaurant this summer, as early as mid-June.