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John Pontillo unsure why his offers to reopen family restaurant have been rejected

By Howard B. Owens

John Pontillo says he has tried doing everything he can to save Pontillo's on East Main Street in Batavia.

So far, all of his offers to buy the building and the business have been rejected. He doesn't know why.

"I offered a solution that gave the family business a chance to reopen and keep it in the family," John Pontillo said this afternoon. "It could be open right now. I made an offer that would have allowed us to take care of all our creditors. Bankers looked at it and real estate people looked at it and business people looked at it and all said, 'John, this is a good offer.'

"It's very frustrating. I don't know why it was rejected."

The landmark Pontillo's, which Sam Pontillo founded in 1947, shut down in November, with a sign appearing in the parking lot saying it was closed for remodeling. It turned out, however, that the business owed more than $112,000 in back taxes.

The brothers were soon in court trying to settle estate and debt issues and who would run the business.

And the fate of Pontillo's has been tied up in court since.

"We all grew up in this business," John said. "I would like to keep it in the family."

A for-sale sign appeared on Pontillo's yesterday about 4 p.m., but John is skeptical that the business and building can be sold before creditors foreclose on the property. He fears if his offer isn't accepted before foreclosure, there will be no more Pontillo's in Batavia -- not the family business his parents nutured into a regionally renowned destination for pizza and pasta.

As local restaurateur Sean Valdes noted in a comment yesterday, "This will be a hard building to sell as a restaurant. The overhead will be a challenge."

We have a call into Sam Pontillo seeking his comment on the situation.

Amy Davis

here,here Josh...let John have it, let him keep his folks legacy. I'll be there for the food, as well as many others to help him succeed. It's time for this family fight to end. Lizzy would want it that way.

Sep 5, 2009, 11:45pm Permalink
Cheryl Kowalik

Pontillo brothers get together and get Pontillo's back in Batavia. There are other Pizzeria's in Batavia, but not a Pontillo's. So many memories. Your parents adopted so many of their customers and you guys have that same pontential. The Pontillo sign is now gone on the corner of Oak Street too. Its such a shame and its reliving your parents and Lizzy's death. Bring Pontillo's back and be the hero's and show how brothers can work together to make your family proud both present and past. You are all talented and learned from your parents. Show what you have learned and put your own individual pride aside and rebuild the family business to what was and can be.

Sep 15, 2009, 10:04pm Permalink

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