The History of Piazza Imo
How a Group of Friends, Donors, and Community Leaders Transformed a Vacant Lot into One of the Hill’s Most Treasured Landmarks
Every great community has places that become part of its identity—places where history, faith, family, and tradition come together. In St. Louis’ historic Italian neighborhood known as the Hill, that place is Piazza Imo. But the story of Piazza Imo did not begin with bricks, fountains, gates, or gardens. It began with a dream.
In 2006, three friends who shared a deep pride in their Italian heritage—Bill Frisella, Eddie Tumminia, and Chris Pagano—learned that a prominent piece of property directly across from St. Ambrose Catholic Church might soon become available for purchase.
For some time, they had been discussing the possibility of creating an Italian Cultural Center on the Hill. The location seemed ideal. Situated across from St. Ambrose, the property occupied one of the most significant corners in the Hill neighborhood. With that vision in mind, the group met with Father Vince Bommarito, the longtime pastor of St. Ambrose, to discuss the possibility of acquiring the site.
Before plans could develop, however, the property was purchased by a group led by developer Jim Wohlert. Wohlert was a builder who had developed other successful projects on the Hill.
For this group, the dream of an Italian Cultural Center appeared to be over. Yet the property was never developed and remained vacant for eleven years. Then, in 2017, an unexpected opportunity arrived. Jim Wohlert approached a member of the original group and offered to sell the property. The conversation reignited excitement and renewed possibilities. During a series of meetings and discussions, a new vision emerged. Rather than constructing a cultural center, why not create something even more reflective of Italy itself? The answer was a piazza. Throughout Italy, piazzas serve as gathering places where families meet, friends connect, boys meet girls, marriage proposals are made, celebrations occur, and communities come together. Many are located beside civic buildings and churches, serving as the heart of their towns and villages.
The property across from St. Ambrose seemed destined for such a purpose. The piazza effort expanded to include additional community leaders and supporters, among them prominent St. Louis lawyer Tom Caradonna, banker Joe Ambrose, business owner Phil Torrisi, pastor Vince Bommarito, and amateur photographer Joe Pisciotta. Together, they shared a common belief that the Hill deserved a gathering place that honored its Italian heritage while serving future generations.
The vision was clear. Funding, however, was not. This group initially approached the Italian Open, a charity organization of which they were all members. The proposal was to use a large dormant charitable endowment as the seed money for the piazza project. While many supported the idea, consensus could not be reached. Disappointed but undeterred, the group began looking elsewhere.
The summer of 2017 became a turning point. A conversation with long-term Hill residents and successful pizza chain owners Margie and Ed Imo could possibly open a door no one expected. The idea of creating a piazza that would strengthen and preserve the character of the Hill resonated deeply with them.
So, a proposal was discussed: if the Imo family purchased and donated the property, the piazza would bear their name, while a fountain at its center would be funded separately by the Frisella family and dedicated as the Frisella Family Fountain.
The concept carried a certain charm.
“Piazza Imo.”
“Frisella Family Fountain.”
The names connected two well-known St. Louis families with a project dedicated to preserving one of its most beloved neighborhoods. A few days later, the answer came. Ed and Margie Imo embraced the vision. They agreed to purchase the property from Wohlert’s group and donate it for the future piazza. The Frisella Family were already committed to funding the fountain, which would become its centerpiece.
What had been only a dream suddenly became possible. For the first time, the vision of a piazza on the Hill was no longer merely an idea discussed around meeting tables and during lunch conversations. It had a home. The property was acquired in September 2017 and donated to a newly formed nonprofit organization before the year’s end. In early 2018, the Frisella Family Fountain was ordered and began its journey from Italy. Still, much remained to be done. Construction estimates approached one million dollars, while available funds represented only a fraction of that amount. The project moved forward anyway.
Later that year, members of the Italian Open found a creative solution regarding the charity’s dormant endowment. Funds were distributed equally among all board members, allowing each individual member to donate his share to charitable causes of their choosing. Many selected Piazza Imo. Those contributions generated more than $100,000, which provided critical momentum. Then came setbacks.
Potential major gifts failed to materialize. Promising conversations ended without commitment. A significant anticipated donation was withdrawn. The project once again stood at a crossroads. By the spring of 2018, the organization owned a vacant lot and had only a small portion of the funds needed to build the piazza that had already been designed and had begun construction. Once again, the community responded. Ed Imo envisioned entrance gates worthy of the project and made an additional commitment. Not only would the Imo family sponsor these magnificent gates with another large naming-rights donation, but they would also fund their design and construction. Artist Claude Breckwalde was commissioned to create the design, while Eureka Forge was selected to bring them to life. The magnificent Gates of Imo were born. Also, during that same timeframe, the Frisella family came through with another significant monetary donation of their own.
The timing of both much-needed donations brought new life to the group. Additional supporters soon stepped forward with large naming-rights donations. The Madalon family funded the grotto dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the Frank and Johnny Bommarito family contributed funds to the Sacred Heart Prayer Garden, Mimi Ravarino committed money to the Holy Family Prayer Garden, and Tom and Cathy Rai sponsored the front pillars. One by one, donors transformed uncertainty into confidence. What had once seemed impossible was becoming reality. Throughout the process, countless individuals contributed their time, expertise, and leadership.
Among many others, Joe Ambrose emerged as the leader’s coordinator, helping to keep the organization focused and informed. Phil Torrisi assumed responsibility for overseeing construction progress. Tom Caradonna served as the piazza’s consigliere and trusted advisor. Bill Frisella, with help from the staff at Metro Lighting, and particularly Rita Frisella Friederich and Barb Moynihan, managed a lot of the bookkeeping and administrative work necessary to keep the project moving forward. Eddie Tumminia and Chris Pagano also provided valuable insight throughout the entire project.
Behind every visible feature of the piazza stood volunteers, donors, board members, and supporters, all of whom believed in the vision, including the contractor, Frisella Landscaping Group. Of course, large donations were important, but so were the smaller ones. Contributions started arriving in every amount imaginable—$25,000, $15,000, $10,000, $5,000, and often much less. Each gift represented another person investing in the future of the Hill. Together, all these donations, big and small, built something remarkable.
On August 8, 2019, Piazza Imo officially opened with much fanfare. Huge crowds were addressed by dignitaries from throughout St. Louis, including the mayor. Families filled the space. Neighbors explored the gardens, admired the magnificent fountain, and walked through the beautiful Gates of Imo that had become the symbol of the project itself. What had once been a vacant lot was now a destination. More importantly, it had become a gathering place. Today, Piazza Imo stands as a tribute to the generosity of a community that refused to let a dream fade away. It honors the faith, heritage, and traditions that have defined the Hill for generations while creating a place where future generations can gather and celebrate their heritage and roots.
A family member in Italy was sent a picture of the entrance to the piazza, and he remarked that it looked like the entrance to a fairy tale. Perhaps that observation was more accurate than anyone realized. Piazza Imo is, in many ways, a fairy tale, not because it appeared by magic, but because it was built through vision, perseverance, generosity, and the collective efforts of people who cared deeply about their community.
The piazza is a gift to the Hill from the community. It is also a gift to St. Louis from the Hill. And it stands as proof that when a community shares a dream, extraordinary things can happen.
Piazza Imo.
A dream realized.
Written By: William Frisella