Like his eatery’s namesake—the Italian word for “champions”—Campioni owner Ric Mausser strives to be a champion in Spring’s restaurant industry.
Campioni is in its 27th year of business and has come a long way from its humble beginnings. Mausser said he and a former business partner founded the restaurant as a pizzeria. Originally located in a strip center at Champion Forest Drive and FM 1960, the small eatery’s following and menu gradually grew.
“One day, before we knew it, we had a full-blown Italian restaurant,” Mausser said.
The restaurant moved to its current building on Cutten Road three years ago when County Line Barbecue left, he said. Because large stand-alone locations are hard for independent businesses to find and acquire, Mausser, who lives a few blocks from the property, said he knew he had to jump on the opportunity as soon as possible.
