Jeff Gigante has been a driving force in the restaurant industry for 25 years, building a diverse array of successful dining concepts and earning a stellar reputation for hospitality, community involvement and philanthropy. His passion for the culinary arts was ignited by cherished family meals and early experiences in various hospitality roles.
He took his first entrepreneurial step by opening Gigamo Bros Pizzeria, later co-founded Ciccio Restaurant Group, opened Forbici Modern Italian and ultimately formed Next Level Brands Hospitality with his business partners. Five years later, the company boasts three dynamic restaurant concepts: Forbici, Boulon and Union.
Next Level Brands operates in the hospitality industry with a mission to curate exceptional dining experiences through teamwork, culture and community. Were constructing this arsenal of hospitality veterans from around the world, who want to grow Tampas food scene. Our people are everything theyre absolute magic, said Gigante. Our goal is to help them accomplish their goals.
The culinary industry is no stranger to challenges. Gigante believes in the adage that true character is defined in times of adversity. The best leaders are those who continue to learn and evolve accordingly, he said.
Next Level Brands strives to be agile as the company evolves, said Gigante, which is why he continually sees gaps in Tampas culinary landscape, and niches that need to be filled. Then, he searches the world for inspiration, to create the concepts that are missing. His efforts have led to recognition as the chambers emerging business of the year in 2021, top founder of a large company by Tampa Bay Business & Wealth in 2023, and a finalist for the South Tampa Chambers business of the year award in 2024.
Gigante is also a servant leader who strives to lead by example while giving back to others. He is the food chair for the Bullard Family Foundation. This organization feeds 40,000+ hungry children each year. He is a board member for Advent Health, an entrepreneur in residence at The University of Tampa, a board of trustee for Saint Marys Episcopal Day School, a volunteer at Childrens Cancer Center and sits on the board of directors of The Tampa Foundation.
His hospitality journey is a selfless one and he believes the more he gives to our customers, the more he will receive in return, said his staff. According to Jeff, the secret to living is giving.
