OVIEDO, Fla. – Film crews have taken over an Oviedo restaurant in dire need.
Production of the Food Network show "Restaurant Impossible" has been filming at Peppino's Italian Restaurant since Wednesday.
An employee nominated the owners of the long-standing eatery to receive help from the show's host Robert Irvine and executive producer Marc Summers.
"We had to stop. I watch him religiously all day," said resident Ashley Coleman.Â
Host Robert Irvine told News 6 that he's working with the family to help fix family relationships as well as changing up the menu.
"The family has finally turned a corner. I feel really strong about what's happening here. When I arrived here yesterday, you have to understand I don't know anything about the family or anything about the business," said Irvine.
Design teams and volunteers were seen on Thursday changing out the furniture and decor of the restaurant.
Irvine said that the family is losing tens of thousands of dollars a year. The owners are also struggling to turn the business over to the next generation.
"The mom and dad are 70 years old -- 72 and 74 years old -- and they are just great human beings. They've tried to give their son a leg up and for what ever reason you'll see on the show later, it hasn't happened," said Irvine.
People in the Oviedo community said they are happy to see help has arrived for the struggling business.
"We came to the restaurant 20 years ago when they were really in their heyday and we've just watched it decline and decline and decline. So I was taking my mom home and I looked over and I was like it's got to be 'Restaurant Impossible!'" said Marcy Elias of Oviedo.
"The food hasn't been that good. My sister said the pizzas are still good, but the food hasn't been that good. And I haven't seen crowds here in a long time," said Cindy Spiro of Oviedo.
With dozens of volunteers giving their time to help get Peppino's back on the right track, Irvine said that the show isn't just about great food, it's also about the foundation of America; small business.
"A lot of people say well reality television is scripted. No it's not. This show is the only one that's not. Real people, real problems, real solutions," said Irvine.
Peppino's opens to a reservation-only crowd on Thursday night. The film crew will head out of town shortly after.
Executive producer Marc Summers told News 6 the episode is scheduled to air in April.