La Villa Pizzeria

About 1990 knowing that we were well established we thought it was a good time to seek out an additional location. With the help and partnership of a super energetic 19 year old Howard Beach kid, Louis Colello, our second location opened in 1992 on Avenue U in Mill Basin, Brooklyn. There as well we quickly grew out of our 35 seat location and in only a couple of years later expanded the store by moving over to the then retired Mr. Minetti’s hardware store. Not long after that did another young Italian kid from Brooklyn named Frankie, join our staff and later became manager and eventually current partner at the Mill Basin store!

In early 2000, with two locations and a handful of dedicated mangers, we again began scout for an additional location. Once again we set our sights on Brooklyn and began to decide on various locations. It was no coincidence then when we discovered the current location I felt strangely comfortable. At the time I had no idea that this was the exact area my family shopped and frequented when we lived in Sunset Park back in the 60’s and early 70’s. My mother would visit Vinny the Butcher (who by the way was a paesano from Salerno!) at least a few times a week, and was located on 5th avenue. Not to mention that Mr. Scicchitano’s original A&S pork store founded in 1947 was also on 5th! We news got out in the family that we were opening again in Brooklyn we received the greatest blessing from my Uncle Gino who started up on 5th avenue in 1955! On Memorial Day 2003 we opened Park Slope with my Sister Irene, my manager of Howard Beach, Billy and my longtime friend and manger of Mill Basin, Lenny! And To this day my mother Maurina can still be found in the early morning prep making sure the pomodoro sauce has the right amount of olive oil or in the evening jumping behind the busy line to sauté!