One of Batavia's landmark signs has been partially shut off the past few nights, and a new sign has gone up on the historic Pontillo's location. It reads "Batavia's Original."
Meanwhile, an ad in the Le Roy PennySaver this week announced that the Le Roy Pontillo's location will close its doors Thursday. All gift certificates for that location must be used by that date, the ad said.
The owners of the Batavia Pontillo's/Batavia's Original were served with a federal trademark infringement suit in September. There's no word on the status of that lawsuit.
In October, it was disclosed that the Le Roy location is allegedly delinquent in taxes, with $24,261 owed to the county, school district, village and town. If not paid, the property could go up for auction in March. UPDATE: County Treasurer Scott German says the property taxes were paid in December.
Sam Pontillo told WBTA that his parent's estate owned a majority share of the Le Roy location.
"I didn't want to be tied to there with the mortgage anymore," Pontillo said. "So, I think it's time for something new for me."
In November 2008, when the Batavia Pontillo's location closed, Sam Pontillo told the Batavia Daily News: "I do not own that one," Sam said, pointing west toward Batavia from the Le Roy Pontillo's. "I own this one."
The estate has been tied up in a protracted lawsuit.
Ma and Pa Pontillo have got
Ma and Pa Pontillo have got to be rolling in their graves.
Bigtime Ricky...As soon as it
Bigtime Ricky...As soon as it was passed down to "the youngins" it went downhill in a BIG way (both locations)
I think it was Nasty of Sam
I think it was Nasty of Sam to sell gift certificates to the Leroy location right up until last week knowing he was closing and they have to be used by tomorrow - come on really- he is going to be in the Batavia pizzeria and don't tell me he could't of honored them. I know we will NEVER support his business again.
The Batavia location is not
The Batavia location is not owned by Sam and I could see the owners not wanting to honor the gift certificates of another business.
When it comes to Pizza,
When it comes to Pizza, nothing matters to me but the Pizza. I don't care who you are or what you have done, good or bad. Make a good Pizza and I'll buy one when I want it. It's the recipe for success. The parents had it, the kids need to follow their leaders or they will perish.
Shortly after the Batavia
Shortly after the Batavia store reopened, I stopped in for the lunch buffet. It consisted of 3 unknown types of pizza (1 of which was stone cold), a few salad fixins, and 3 unlabeled things in stainless steel containers.
I was doubly disappointed because I used to dine there on a weekly basis. I was expecting the same quality.
Needless to say, I haven't been back. I hope for the owner's sake it has improved. Otherwise it won't be open long.
My boyfriend and I just
My boyfriend and I just recently ate there for the lunch buffet, this tuesday. Never again. It was the second time. The pizza looked like it was frozen pizza and the pasta dishes were over cooked and cold and it was only 11:30am and the buffet starts at 11am.
The pizza was cold and I even went up when she brought out "fresh" pizza and it was still cold and had that frozen look and taste to it.
The first time we went it was about 1:30pm and the waitress said that it was ending at 2pm so she was sorry that it looked so bad but to be honest it was better than this time. But both times were still disgusting. We gave it another chance but we will never go there again.
Service was horrible too. All she had to do was bring us drinks and she couldn't even seem to manage to do that in a reasonable time.