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Iconic Long Island Pizzeria Gino's Closes After Nearly 50 Years

CBS New YorkFebruary 7, 20262 min4,382 views
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A Half-Century of Pizza Making

  • ๐Ÿ• Franco Speciali, at 75 years old, is retiring after nearly 50 years of making pizzas at Gino's in Williston Park.
  • ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Franco opened Gino's in 1979 shortly after moving to America from Italy, becoming a staple in the community.

A Family Affair

  • ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘งโ€๐Ÿ‘ฆ The pizzeria was not only Franco's workplace but also his two sons' childhood haunt, where they learned the business.
  • ๐Ÿ“š Lessons were learned one slice at a time, with memories of making boxes, wiping tables, and napping on flour bags.
  • ๐Ÿ’” Neither son chose to take over the family business, leading to the decision to sell the shop.

Community Farewell

  • ๐Ÿ’” The community expresses deep sadness over the closure, with many customers having patronized the pizzeria for generations.
  • ๐Ÿค Families like the Legox have shared memories and time together at Gino's, making it more than just a place to eat.
  • ๐ŸŽ Local teachers have made it a tradition to eat lunch there every Friday, though they are happy for the family's next chapter.
  • โณ Loyal customers recall coming to Gino's for decades, highlighting the long-standing relationships built.

Final Slices and Retirement

  • ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Gino's will serve its last slice on February 22nd, giving customers two weeks to get their final taste.
  • ๐Ÿค” Franco is contemplating his life after pizza, expressing a desire to "come back young and start all over again."
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PizzeriaFamily BusinessRetirementCommunityLong IslandWilliston ParkGenerational BusinessCustomer LoyaltySmall Business Closure
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