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Le Roy Pontillo's location among properties facing tax foreclosure

By Howard B. Owens

Foreclosure proceedings have begun against 68 county properties because of unpaid taxes, including the Le Roy Pontillo's location, according to County Treasurer Scott German.

Pontillo's owes for three years of back taxes, including school, town, village and county, totaling $24,261.

The delinquent property owners have until Jan. 14 to make final payment on their back taxes to avoid having the property sold at auction.

The auction will be scheduled for some time in March or April.

German said typically, 50 to 55 of the property owners will settle their tax issues prior to foreclosure.

All of the property owners have been sent letters, and notices have been published in two daily newspapers, with additional notifications pending.

Gary Spencer

"Foreclosure proceedings have begun against 68 county properties because of unpaid taxes".....

Why the need to target Pontillo's and not mention ANY other property?

Don't tell me.....it's because of all the other scandals that have been in the news about the Ponillo Family business's.....

Still seems a little like media bias to me.....I'd be interested in the other 67 properties that owe taxes!!!

I'm just saying.....

Oct 22, 2010, 4:15pm Permalink
bud prevost

Gary said "Don't tell me.....it's because of all the other scandals that have been in the news about the Ponillo Family business's....."

This guy(sam)has been called out before on this tax issue, right here on this forum. My concern is not losing the pizza( I'm a Ficarella's guy), it's that the building will become occupied by another not for profit. Right now, off the top of my head, there are 7 churches/religious groups on Main St. Leroy. We don't need anymore. Sorry God

Oct 22, 2010, 5:07pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

The Pontillo's situation has been news for a couple of years now.

As I go around town I get asked regularly for the latest news on Pontillo's or people just want to talk about it.

So there's clearly an interest and that makes it news.

When we don't follow up on pending news items -- we reported several months ago that this property had unpaid county taxes -- people complain about that. It also would have been news -- perhaps bigger news -- if the property taxes had been paid.

I was going to do this post just about Pontillo's, but decided I should also throw in that there are other properties. If Scott German had been able to tell me about any other particular properties of interest, I would have included those, but the vast majority are residential properties.

When the final foreclosure list is available, we'll publish that, just as we did last year.

Oct 22, 2010, 5:24pm Permalink
Gary Spencer

Thank you for the clarification Howard, and I agree it is news worthy, just thought if there were so many others that would be almost equally interesting.

Oct 22, 2010, 11:02pm Permalink
janien klotzbach

I really hope that the Leroy location does not close! From the time I was very young, our family would always go to Pontillos in Batavia, Sam and Betty were always there to talk to their customers and the pizza was consistent, with the proper amount of toppings and its amazing flavor. After Sam passed away, the pizza changed in every way, the toppings were so thin that what you thought to be cheese was actually the dough showing through the cheese and you would be lucky to have more than two mushrooms per slice...very sad and disappointing when you are paying the price and only wanted what Sam and Betty used to make sure you got. I visited the Leroy location for the first time a few months ago and after receiving the pizza at our table, just by the look of it...I knew how it was going to taste! Just like I remembered it YEARS ago! Unlike the Batavia location, I apologize and mean no disrespect but the customers are the reason for being there right? So please stop skimping on the toppings and make your pizza makers be consistent! Until then I will patronize the Leroy location so Please Please pay the taxes and stay open!

Oct 23, 2010, 12:43am Permalink
RICHARD L. HALE

I agree Janien. Whenever we had pizza delivered, you could very easily tell if Sam Sr. was working. My mouth waters at the thought! If one of the kids made it, you could tell right away also! I can only chalk it up to one thing....PRIDE. Something that is missing in todays generation of business owners.

Oct 23, 2010, 2:27am Permalink
David Kurch

Betty and Sam were my aunt and uncle.They worked hard to build up there business.Lets just remember the old times and go on to other news.I am sure they see whats going on and are quite upset about it.And i agree ,my uncle was very consistent and its a shame that it has changed for the worse.

Oct 23, 2010, 11:34am Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

David, you are so right, when Betty and Sam ran the business,I beleive they were chosen as the top pizzeria in the area by a daily news poll.It's a shame that many of todays business owners lack the dedication the Pontillo's had for the success of their business. I remember they had lost their license to serve alcohol, and allowed patrons to bring their own. Try that now days. They were great people, and are sorely missed in this community.

Oct 23, 2010, 1:46pm Permalink
George Richardson

"there are 7 churches/religious groups on Main St. Leroy. We don't need anymore. Sorry God"
You don't need to say you are sorry, God is on your side.

Oct 23, 2010, 3:19pm Permalink

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