Santillo’s, a century-old brick oven pizza shop, is preparing to rise again after a devastating fire nearly destroyed it on January 6. The blaze severely damaged the shop’s irreplaceable brick oven.
Owner Al Santillo is optimistic about reopening, possibly by the end of the year. “I feel great about the progress,” he said. “Everyone has been wonderful and helpful. It’s turned into a positive experience.”
A GoFundMe campaign started by Dave Portnoy, owner of Barstool Sports and a pizza reviewer, has raised over $32,000. “The support from the city, the mayor, and so many others has been incredible,” Santillo noted.
Despite the challenges, Santillo continues to pursue his passion. While the shop undergoes repairs, he has been selling ready-to-bake pizzas online through Goldbelly. To meet customer demand for fresh pizza, he has also organized pop-up events at local pizzerias.
“Everyone in the community helps each other out,” said Dave Ligas, owner of Casano’s Pizza Parlor in Rutherford, which will host Santillo’s next pop-up in November. “I hope everybody comes.”
Santillo emphasizes that his motivation isn’t financial; he wants to share his craft. “Younger people inspire me to keep going,” he said. “I need that too.”
Santillo’s pop-up at Casano’s will take place on Veteran’s Day, Monday, November 11, from 2 to 8 p.m.
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