Nardi is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, brother of mobster John Nardi, and a nephew of Anthony Milano and cousin of Peter Milano, Carmen Milano and Anthony Delsanter all high ranking members in organized crime. Before moving to L.A., Nardi along with his brother John, were associates of the Cleveland mob. Nicholas was present in the Teamsters local building where he and his brother both worked when John was killed in a car-bomb in the Teamster parking lot.