The university neighborhood on Maryland Parkway has changed a bit since Mimmo Ferraro attended UNLV, from 1997 through 2000, before attending culinary school in San Francisco.

“Back when I was in UNLV, this was area was Moose McGillycuddy’s, (Freakin’) Frog,” the 41-year old recalls, sitting in his own Maryland Parkway restaurant, the newest Pizza Forte location. “To see the uptick in new buildings, and just the modern look — the new blood, new energy – it’s good.”