Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse is the newest rising star of Heart of America Restaurants & Inns. The first Johnny’s opened in Des Moines, Iowa, to rave reviews in April 2002. There are now five in the Heart of America family in Des Moines; Moline, Ill.; Peoria, Ill.; Omaha, Neb.; and Madison, Wis. Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse seats nearly 250 people and averages more than $3.5 million in sales per year. Heart of America Restaurants & Inns, Johnny s parent company, employees nearly 2,000 people in five Midwest states: Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota and Wisconsin. After nearly 26 years of success, it has developed into a $75 million a year hospitality company.