In 1950, at the age of 16, Giovanni Mignone came out to Adelaide on the ship 'U Gulini Vivaldi'. He followed his father Emidio who came out one year earlier. The rest of his family arrived 2 years later. Within four days of arriving, he went to work at Menzies Biscuits. Four years later he opened a general store and bocce alley at Maylands.

He married in 1957 and with his new wife, Tina Telegramma, they opened a succession of Pizzerias. Giovanni was a pioneer in the industry and later moved his skills to the Adelaide Hills.