In a rollercoaster year for pizza maestro Al Santillo, the clouds of misfortune appear to be parting, offering a glimmer of hope for the future of Santillo’s Brick Oven Pizza in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
The journey through adversity began on January 6th, when a devastating fire reduced Santillo’s beloved pizzeria to ashes. The tragedy only compounded when firefighting efforts left his cherished brick oven severely water-damaged.
As if fate had more trials in store, April brought another blow as Santillo found himself hospitalized with an abdominal infection—a harrowing experience that threatened not just his health, but the very essence of his life’s work.
But resilience knows no bounds, and Santillo’s tenacity has been nothing short of remarkable. After undergoing emergency surgery and facing an uncertain prognosis, he is now on the road to recovery, albeit with a long and arduous journey ahead.
The path to rebuilding Santillo’s Brick Oven Pizza is fraught with challenges. Lacking fire insurance due to the age of the building, Santillo must rely on the generosity of friends, the solidarity of community, and the power of social media to rally support for his cause.
A Facebook group aptly named “Santillo’s Volunteers” has emerged as a beacon of hope, with over 1,200 members pledging their assistance in fundraising and reconstruction efforts. Even Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has lent his support, vowing to stand by Santillo in his hour of need.
A forthcoming fundraiser, backed by the New York Jets and the New Jersey Devils, aims to bolster Santillo’s efforts to resurrect his culinary haven. Yet, the road ahead is paved with uncertainty, with estimates for reconstruction costs soaring into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The heart of Santillo’s Brick Oven Pizza lies not just in its iconic oven, but in its rich history and unwavering dedication to the craft of pizza-making. Founded in 1918 by Lou Santillo and passed down through generations, the pizzeria has served as a culinary institution, drawing in celebrities and locals alike.
Now, as Al Santillo embarks on the daunting task of rebuilding, he carries with him the weight of tradition and the hopes of a community rallying behind him. With resilience as his guiding light, Santillo remains determined to restore his storied pizzeria to its former glory—and perhaps, in doing so, carve out a new chapter in its illustrious history.