A Queens pizzeria has ignited a storm of controversy with its new T-shirts featuring the face of alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer, Rex Heuermann. The shirts, printed by Pizza on the Point in Breezy Point, leverage the infamous detail that Heuermann was caught through DNA on a pizza crust.
The shirts read, “The Pizza is Amazing. But make sure you finish the crust — Rex Heuermann, Gilgo Pizza Connoisseur.” While the pizzeria’s owners claim it’s a slice of Big Apple humor, not everyone is amused.
“That’s dark!” exclaimed Paul Fallon, a Breezy Point retiree, when interviewed by The Post on Tuesday. “That’s beyond dark. That’s tasteless, and tasteless is not a good thing for a pizza parlor.”
Another customer, Samantha K, expressed her distaste, stating, “Oh my God, take the picture off. It might be funny for some people, but it’s really inappropriate. They should definitely take his picture off! That is some dark, dark humor.”
The idea for the shirts came from the pizzeria’s owner, explained chef Stefano Ballato. “He has a very good sense of humor,” Ballato said. “He had them printed by his friends. He was born and raised here in Breezy Point.”
Pizza on the Point, a popular eatery in Breezy Point, is owned by local restaurateur Tom McGoorty. Ballato noted that the pizzeria has been giving the shirts away to regular customers, but due to growing demand, they might start selling them.
“Most of the people here are relaxed,” Ballato added. “If you go to Manhattan, you can’t make nobody happy. Always someone finds a problem, a way not to be happy. They don’t appreciate nothing funny. Not here, no worry in the world. They’re all good here.”
Some customers have embraced the dark humor. Alyssa Kotzman said, “I think it’s hilarious. I really like the way the shirt was laid out. Now that I know I’m definitely going to eat the crust!”
A municipal worker, identified only as Brian, also found the shirts amusing. “It’s funny,” he said. “It’s a little dark. Dark humor, but definitely New York humor.”
Chris Reed, another Breezy Point local, echoed this sentiment. “It doesn’t bother me,” Reed said. “You gotta make fun of things. You can’t always be a tight ass.”
Heuermann, a married Massapequa Park architect, is accused of killing six sex workers whose bodies were found along Ocean Parkway on Long Island since 2010. The case remained unsolved for over a decade until Heuermann’s arrest last year, facilitated by DNA evidence found on a pizza crust.