A fresh take on tradition: Fast-casual Vietnamese dining thrives in Gulfport
V-Roll Vietnamese Rolls & Bowls of Pinellas County
At the heart of Pinellas County, V-Roll Vietnamese Rolls & Bowls, is redefining how the community experiences Vietnamese cuisine — blending authenticity, efficiency, and heartfelt tradition into a fast-casual model that is both unique and welcoming.
For business owner, Stephanie Nghiem, this commitment is rooted in a lifelong passion. Inspired by her mother’s deep expression of love through food — lavish family meals filled with multiple dishes — the owner transformed a personal hobby into a thriving business designed to share that same warmth with the community.
“Not many people are used to eating Vietnamese food in a fast casual setting, and this is a different way to serve Vietnamese food in an authentic way still and get you the quality that is still very high with fresh ingredients,” Nghiem said.
As a first-time restaurateur, she turned to the Florida SBDC at Pinellas County Economic Development and the Florida SBDC at USF for guidance. With the support of business consultants Debra Schweikowsky and Greg Manning, she navigated financing options, developed detailed financial projections, and selected the ideal location after evaluating multiple markets. “It was definitely a journey getting here and doing a lot of planning, a lot of projections, and many meetings in order to get to the spot where we are today,” Nghiem said.
Since opening, the business has grown from five to 14 employees, launched online ordering, and established a strong presence in Gulfport. For Nghiem, success goes beyond growth metrics. “The biggest success so far is opening the restaurant in general, because so many restaurants fail, and especially with the tough economy today, it’s difficult to see small businesses thrive. And so being open for this long, staying open and keeping our head above water is more than I could have asked,” she expressed.
Looking ahead, she plans to continue leveraging SBDC resources to support future expansion. “I don’t see the SBDC as just a benefit for the restaurant, but truly the mentorship that I’ve had from Debra and Greg have been… I really wouldn’t have made [it] as far as I could of without them, and I’m so thankful,” Nghiem said.
Her advice to fellow entrepreneurs? “For other businesses that are starting out and thinking about getting help from the SBDC, for me, it has truly become just an instrumental part in growing this business and in having, the success that I do today… The guidance is not only valuable to me, but for the entire team and for me to grow into more than just one shop,” Nghiem said.
