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For-sale sign posted on Pontillo's in Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

This is a reader-submitted photo of a for-sale sign on the Pontillo's building on E. Main Street in Batavia. A caller informs us the sign was placed on the building at 4 p.m. We're working on getting more information.

Sean Valdes

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?

Sep 4, 2009, 9:32pm Permalink
Bea McManis

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.

Sep 4, 2009, 9:49pm Permalink
Amy Davis

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.

Sep 4, 2009, 11:43pm Permalink
Bea McManis

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.

Sep 4, 2009, 11:56pm Permalink
Michael Kirsch

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!

Sep 5, 2009, 1:01am Permalink
Peter O'Brien

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.

Sep 5, 2009, 8:10am Permalink
Jerry Buckman

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.

Sep 5, 2009, 8:35am Permalink
Bea McManis

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.

Sep 5, 2009, 9:36am Permalink
Bob Price

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".....

Sep 5, 2009, 12:46pm Permalink
John Roach

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.

Sep 5, 2009, 1:08pm Permalink

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