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Photo: New Main St. Pizza sign

By Howard B. Owens

Remember when businesses had painted signs on the sides of their buildings? 

Vic Marchese is going old school with the sign he hired Vinny DelPlato to paint for him on the back of Main St. Pizza Company.

DelPlato is responsible for many of the murals you see around town.

Here's a piece we did on him when he was working on the mural at Next Level Fitness.

Loy Gross

My opinion - if Marchese had enough sense, he'd invest in a second cash register and more wait staff instead of a new sign.

We used to be regulars at Main St - at least once a week. We stopped because the line for pickups is always out the door and takes forever to move. Over 30 minute waits *just to pay* caused us to miss more than one family function and that's not acceptable. We've switched to Ficarella's even though we prefer Vic's pizza, and we're not the only ones.

Just my $0.02, in case anyone who can convince the man is reading. I'd really like to go back to that better pizza.

Jun 7, 2011, 11:44am Permalink
Beth Kinsley

I'm a frequent customer and I've never waited more than a few minutes. I will admit it does get a little crowded in the doorway sometimes with people trying to exit, people waiting to be seated and people picking up. Great food though.

Jun 7, 2011, 11:55am Permalink
Cory Hawley

I agree w/ Loy. During the Sabres/Flyers series, we ordered takeout pizza & wings w/ 10 minutes left in the 1st period. Were told 20 minutes for pickup so that way we would be back before the strat of the 2nd period. Ended up missing the entire 2nd period and the first couple minutes of the 3rd. It took nearly 1 1/2 hrs to get food. Granted we were not charged, but I would much rather have paid for it AND been able to see the game than this. Originally they were going to take a whopping $2.00 off the almost $30 order. The look on my face must have changed their minds. It takes a while to either get seated, served or cashed out as well. I agree the pizza is great and the dry rub main st. wings are the best, but something has to be done as far as time management and staff #'s. The staff is freindly and working hard, just not enough of them in the front of the house. There always seems to be more than enough in the back.

Jun 7, 2011, 12:12pm Permalink
Michael T. Johnston

I have to agree. The service has gone down hill. Food is great but I'll only go so far to get good food. They don't answer the phone, the time they tell you is off, and you have to wait forever.

On a side note I do have one of the new shirts that he has and its one of my favorites! Looks exactly like the sign! lol.

Jun 7, 2011, 12:22pm Permalink
Jason Brunner

We had my daughter's birthday party there and the waitstaff was phenomenal! My needs were met right away and the kids had a great time. The price was very reasonable as well. Granted I have never picked up an order from there, but I have NEVER had bad service and the food has always been fantastic!

Jun 7, 2011, 12:58pm Permalink
Amy Platten

It is nice to see some of the old painted signs come back. In some cases they are better than the lighted ones. You don't have to worry about a letter going out and spelling something obscene.

Jun 7, 2011, 1:18pm Permalink
George Richardson

If people complain about the service, it means hire some additional help. Part time, full time or family members. Service is nearly as important as the food, sometimes more. Nice sign though, skateboard punk rock old school.
High school students on summer vacation need apply or carry a sign out front that says: "Will work for pizza, wings and $2.00 an hour plus tips."

Jun 7, 2011, 2:16pm Permalink
Billie Owens

Mary, I've seen the spelling as DelPlato, del Plato, and Del Plato. He spells it DelPlato and unless he notifies us otherwise, that's how we will spell it.

Jun 7, 2011, 4:33pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

You know, Vic has a very successful business. You know it's successful when the chief complaint is "it's too busy."

Personally, I've never had too long of a wait for service, but I have seen the lines stretching out the door.

A few times Vic and I have spoken about this. The issue isn't hiring more staff. It's space. It's why he bought the building. He really wants to expand and is trying to find the best route for making that happen.

Jun 7, 2011, 4:39pm Permalink
kevin kretschmer

You're not the only ones, Loy. We don't bother trying to eat there in the evening any more and attempting to call in a takeout order has become a joke at our house. After the 3rd separate attempt recently and getting a busy signal for 20+ minutes it's Ralph & Rosie's from now on. The pizza is as good and they actually answer their phone. Needing more space can certainly be a problem but seriously, a 2nd phone line has to be more cost effective than all the business he's losing.

Jun 7, 2011, 5:46pm Permalink
Mike Weaver

Love their pizza, and the wing sauces are tasty too. We'll stop and eat in occassionally but we make sure to get there before the rush. We don't order takeout from there anymore though. Two cold pizzas in a row because of the wait at take out was enough. I think he's kidding himself if he thinks it's just a space problem. We've had trouble getting through on the phone too. Pro tip- if they are too busy to answer the phone, it's probably going to mean a long wait to get your food. Go elsewhere.

Great food. Slow counter.

Jun 7, 2011, 7:22pm Permalink
Phil Ricci

I love how an article about a sign turns into a bash-fest about the place :-)

I don't really have anything to add, Main St. was never really our thing, but the few times we did go it was good.

The sign is cool by the way.

Jun 7, 2011, 8:40pm Permalink
Bernie Thompson

I will agree with Phil,it's an article about a sign.Yet some think they need to input negativity about phone and or food service? Nothing like getting off the track but hey it's also good to vent.

For what it's worth---- Personally I have nothing but good things to say about Main St.Pizza or Vic and the entire staff.We eat there at least 3 times a month and have only waited a few times to be seated (no more than 15 minutes),the food usually arrived within a half hour.Ordered one with 5 min.left in the 1st period of the Bruins game (0-0) went to town, picked up my order and was home before the second period started,Enjoyed a Great Pizza (Hot out of the Oven),cold beverage and a Bruins victory (8-1).
Batavia has a few eateries that I don't like because of the service and/or food quality.Please note that nothing in this posting has anything negative about them?

Support Batavia "Shop Local--Eat Local" and don't forget the Muckdogs!

Jun 7, 2011, 10:51pm Permalink
kevin kretschmer

The points raised are all quite valid and I would hope Mr. Marchese is more concerned about Service Recovery than having a nice sign behind his pizza parlor. It costs almost six times more to attract new customers as it does to retain current ones.

Jun 8, 2011, 9:44pm Permalink

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