This will be hard building to sell as a restaurant. The overhead will be a challenge. BTW, Is it legal to open a new restaurant in Batavia without some kind of city, county, GCEDC or state tax incentive?

What a terrible shame for our community. Sam & Betty would be so disappointed. Sad, just plain sad. I will miss it.

eeeks, it's a corner lot with limited parking...it will make a wonderful new drug store!!! We certainly need ONE more.
They can even put a fence around it and make it look like those in the big cities that need extra security.

Frankly, I think it should be made into a pizza museum...to honor the history of Pontillo's and the tradition of pizza places on every corner in Batavia.

I like your pizza museum idea, Bea.

Me too Bea. Sam Sr. and Betty spent their lives building this successful business. What a nice tribute to them that would be.

When the "kids" got more control, everything went to heck. Not unusual, but as we all know there's alot more to the "story" of this Batavia legacy.

More than likely, they'll find a reason to tear it down (please no more drug stores).

Sad, so very sad.

Sam loved to tell the story of my oldest son, an exchange student in Germany, being homesick for a Pontillo's pizza.
We had gone to the Erie County Fair to watch the Batavia High School band perform in the parade.
When we got home, there was a call from Sam.
My son called them (collect) and ordered a pizza to be delivered to his parents.
Sam, not only took care of the call, but the pizza too.
On the box was a note, "From Germany, with love".
Two more of my boys worked there...and the youngest 'helped' by sweeping out the shop.
Sam and Betty were special people.

I have lived in Germany since 1978, first active duty Air Force for 26 years and now as a federal employee still supporting the Air Force. Of all the things I miss the most about Batavia besides the people is the great pizza from Pontillo’s and Beef on Wick from the Pok-a-Dot. When ever I am passing through on leave or temporary duty to another location, I make it a point to put Pontillo’s FIRST on my list… I might even come back just to eat there one more time before it closes!

Too late Michael its been closed since before Christmas.

If I had the money this would be a bakery. Especially if it came with the ovens.

So where is THE pizza place nowadays? I was just there visiting and tried Pontillo's in LeRoy. No reason to go back. Oh...I stopped in at O'Lacy's, too. That place has taken a dive from my last visit 2 years ago.

Where were you stationed Michael? I spent a couple years at Spangdahlem AB.

Posted by Jerry Buckman on September 5, 2009 - 8:35am
So where is THE pizza place nowadays? I was just there visiting and tried Pontillo's in LeRoy. No reason to go back. Oh...I stopped in at O'Lacy's, too. That place has taken a dive from my last visit 2 years ago.

The choice of pizza places is, of course, a matter of taste. I love Main St. Pizza. Judging from how crowded it is, a lot of other people do too.

Agreed Bea - Main Street Pizza! Excellent pizza and everything else. My daughter loves the Caribbean wings.

We've had this debate before, and everybody's taste is different, but I vote for Ficarella's, either Batavia or Leroy...simply the best!!!

No,it will probably be sold and become another bank or a gas station......my brother and sister used to work for them when they were in high school(delivery)....it seems like it was yesterday when I walked up those steps to get the pizza and wings(turned out they closed a couple days later)....BTW-it is not a "for sale" sign-it is one that says "available".....

Bob,
Why not any pizza place?

It seems to have made money until it was tied up in an estate fight with the brothers. Maybe it was just them and somebody new will come in and make a go of it.

Chris, I am still at Spangdahlem