Customers welcome remodeled restaurant

Tony’s Pizza in Stockholm has expanded and reopened after an electrical fire in late 2008, By Cindy Weightman Stockholm — A landmark restaurant in Stockholm is again open for business after being ravaged by an electrical fire more than a year ago. Tony’s Pizza is back and more popular than ever, according to the family-run shop’s owners. “People are excited that we’re back and they’re just looking to see what the place looks like now,” said John Pignataro, son of Anthony Pignataro. The new restaurant is about 1,000 square feet larger than the original and features a new one-floor layout. Both the bar and dining areas were expanded and the bathrooms have been moved out of the entrance and toward the back. The bar now features a pool table and there are DJ’s every Friday and Saturday, but the menu hasn’t changed. “We’ve stuck to our roots on that,” Pignataro said. The family had long talked about a renovation but the Oct. 10, 2008 fire took the choice out of its hands. The onset of winter caused some delay in beginning the reconstruction. Then there was the process of getting everything approved by Hardyston Township. They reopened Dec. 14, 2009. Pignataro says it was a balancing act between the family’s needs and wants and making the restaurant the way they’ve always envisioned. They try to think positively about the whole experience. “Without the fire this renovation never would have happened. You can’t tell your customers that you’re going to be closed for a year,” Pignataro said. But in the end, they’ve come back stronger than ever.