From Cimmiiyotti's to Virgil's: Restoring A Pendleton Landmark and Keeping the Cowboy Legacy Alive
For decades, Cimmiyotti’s was the place where ranchers, rodeo champions, and hardworking cowboys could enjoy a hearty meal after a long day in the saddle. Whether it was a celebration after the Pendleton Round-Up or a quiet evening with family, the restaurant became an iconic gathering place.
Paul Cimmiyotti held the reins of the restaurant until 1994, when he decided to pass it on to new owners. Over the years, Cimmiyotti’s changed hands multiple times, each transition taking it further from the Western charm and tradition it was known for. By 2005, the restaurant had closed its doors, and what was once a symbol of Pendleton’s rich cowboy heritage had fallen into disrepair. For many, it seemed like the end of an era—another piece of the Old West fading into history.
But the cowboy spirit is about resilience, and in 2009, Jennifer Keeton saw the potential to bring Cimmiyotti’s back to life. With a deep appreciation for its history and a vision for the future, she embarked on a mission to restore the landmark restaurant to its former glory. After painstaking renovations, she reopened it under a new name: Virgil’s at Cimmiyotti’s. The restaurant once again became a beacon of Western hospitality, honoring the past while welcoming a new generation of cowboys and travelers.
Today, Virgil’s at Cimmiyotti’s stands as a tribute to the grit and determination of those who refuse to let history slip away. It’s more than just a restaurant—it’s a living piece of Pendleton’s cowboy legacy, where stories are shared over steak dinners and the spirit of the West remains as strong as ever.
