Tag Archives: Joe’s Pizza

Strolling Along

Posted on December 4, 2022 | 1 comment

It’s the magic of the holiday season.

Moments before the 2nd annual Holiday Stroll yesterday, the weather cleared.

Hundreds of Westporters of all ages — including tons of kids — headed downtown.

A small part of the large crowd. (Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)

They met Santa, dropped off letters to him, and gave gifts for the PAL toy drive. They had their faces painted, and got animal balloons.

11-year-old Owen Hill (blue jacket) provided animal balloons for dozens of even younger kids. (Photo/Dan Woog)

They were serenated by Staples High School’s Orphenians, and Greens Farms Academy’s Harbor Blues. They wandered all around downtown too, joining in carols led by professional singer Nick Calabrese (plus 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker).

Nick Calabrese leads carolers. No, the teenagers are not checking their notifications. They’re reading the lyrics to holiday songs. (Photo/Dan Woog)

They nibbled free food and drank hot chocolate at a dozen restaurants, and snagged giveaways and discounts at a few dozen shops.

Garlic knots at Joe’s Pizza! (Photo/Dan Woog)

It was a magical evening. Thanks to the Westport Downtown Association, which partnered with “06880” for the event.

And to the weather gods, who delivered big time when we needed it most.

Staples Orphenians, directed by Luke Rosenberg, offered wonderful music … (Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)

… and the crowd grew larger with every song. (Photo/Dan Woog)

Both 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker and a young constituent were decked out in blinking lights. (Photo/Dan Woog)

Aarti Khosla offered hot chocolate at her Le Rouge chocolatier. (Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)

Nomade handed out candied almonds in bamboo cones — and chocolate chip cookies. (Photo/Dan Woog)

The main tent was outside Cold Fusion. There were plenty of treats inside too. (Photo/Dan Woog)

More hot chocolate, at Manna Toast. (Photo/Dan Woog)

Savvy + Grace put out holiday treats. (Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)

WEST owner Kitt Shapiro drew crowds with a $150 gift card raffle. (Photo/Dan Woog)

Some kids mailed letters to Santa in the Savvy + Grace mailbox … (Photo/Dan Woog)

… and some parents handed them directly to “Santa.” (Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)

Santa greeted youngsters, who were excited … (Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)

… and serious … (Photo/Dan Woog)

… and who photo-bombed him. (Photo/Dan Woog)

Santa was also popular with Greens Farms Academy’s Harbor Blues, after they sang. (Photo/Dan Woog)

Westport PAL collected gifts for kids in need. (Photo/Dan Woog)

Staples freshman Ava Carter and friend Nelly Kaminski painted dozens of young faces. (Photo/Jen Cirino)

The 2nd annual Holiday Stroll was sponsored by “06880” and the Westport Downtown Association. We’re already getting ready for next year’s! (Photo/Dan Woog)

(If you enjoyed last night’s Holiday Stroll, please support “06880.” Click here — and thank you!)

 

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And The Holiday Window Decorating Contest Winners Are …

Posted on December 23, 2020 | Comments Off on And The Holiday Window Decorating Contest Winners Are …

Only a few people can watch NFL games in person. You haven’t been to a concert in longer than it takes to conceive and deliver a baby.

But anyone could have gone around town, checked out holiday window decorations, and voted for their favorites.

In fact, many people did.

Yesterday, the Westport Downtown Merchants Association and Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of the annual contest. This year for the first time, it encompassed the entire town. 

And the winners are…:

Mom and Pop Shop:  The Plumed Serpent Bridal 

Plumed Serpent Bridal 

National chain:  Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Restaurant/Deli:  Joe’s Pizza

Joe’s Pizza

Non-retail:  Artistex Salon & Spa

Artistex Spa & Salon

And the grand prize — for the window with the most total votes: The Plumed Serpent Bridal.

They win dinner for 4 at Don Memo.

Click here for a list of all participating venues. Voting in closed — but you can still enjoy them!

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Posted in Downtown, Local business, Organizations, Restaurants

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And The Pizza Winners Are…

Posted on April 3, 2018 | 7 comments

Over 1,700 pizza lovers cast votes during last month’s Great Westport Pizza Contest.

Sponsored by the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce, 14 restaurants competed in 7 categories.

When the votes were tallied, you chose:

  • Best slice: Westport Pizzeria
  • Best plain pizza: Westport Pizzeria
  • Best meat pizza: Joe’s Pizza
  • Best gluten-free pizza:  Joe’s Pizza
  • Best veggie pizza: Tutti’s Ristorante
  • Best delivered pizza:  Jordan’s Restaurant
  • Best personal pizza: Rizzuto’s Restaurant and Toscano Pizzeria (tie)
  • Honorable mention:  Romanacci Pizza Bar and Planet Pizza lost by only 2 votes in the “Best personal pizza” and “Best delivered pizza” categories, respectively.

Mel Mioli’s Westport Pizzeria may have moved to the Post Road, after 45 years on Main Street. But it’s still a Westport favorite.

The victors did not get any dough — just the satisfaction of coming out on top (and free publicity).

Any way you slice it, the Great Westport Pizza Contest was a winner.

March was Westport Pizza Month. That’s not just an idea — it was an official proclamation from 1st Selectman Jim Marpe (2nd from left). Joining him were (from left) Westport Chamber of Commerce director Matthew Mandell; Ira Bloom of event sponsors Bercham Moses, and Joe Canicatti, owner of double winner Joe’s Pizza.

 

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Westport Pizzeria: Big Changes In Store

Posted on February 2, 2014 | 38 comments

The bad news: After 45 years, Westport Pizzeria is closing its Main Street doors.

The good news: The day after it happens — later this month — the legendary, much-loved restaurant will re-open around the corner.

The new location — 143 Post Road East — was most recently the site of EATalia. It’s got great Italian bones: Before that, it was Joe’s Pizza. Even earlier, it was the bizarrely named S&M Pizza.

Westport Pizzeria owner Mel Mioli. His shirt says, "Serving generations with kindness and love since 1968!"

Westport Pizzeria owner Mel Mioli. His shirt says, “Serving generations with kindness and love since 1968!”

Owner Mel Mioli says his landlord — Malkin Property — sent him a non-renewal notice around January 1. Earlier, Mel says, Malkin offered him a 5-year lease if Kate Spade — 2 doors down — did not rent the entire building. But that didn’t happen, Mel says. Then the landlord stopped answering letters, emails and phone calls.

Now Mel is out. So is Kate Spade. And — in between them — Francois DuPont Jewelers.

At first, Mel says, he was sad. After nearly half a century on Main Street, the pizzeria he and his brother Joe founded has become a Westport institution. Customers became  friends — and he’s watched their children, and now grandchildren, grow up.

But a couple of years ago, Mel bought the 143 Post Road East property — just in case something like this happened.

Now, that’s a hot location. Just a few steps away are a host of restaurants: Post 154. Finalmente. La Villa. Blue Lemon.

A familiar scene, for 45 years. The backs of the shirts say "A true slice of Westport."

A familiar scene, for 45 years. The backs of the shirts say “A true slice of Westport.”

Westport Pizzeria’s new space is a lot larger than the beloved — but very narrow — Main Street site. Mel is renovating the Post Road property, making it bright and welcoming.

He’ll add a few dishes to the menu. Plus — grazie! — beer and wine.

Mel’s initial sadness has turned to excitement.

“I’m very, very happy,” he says. “We’ll take care of old customers better than before, and I know we’ll make new ones.”

The other day, he walked past his new Westport Pizzeria. The sidewalk was packed with pedestrians. “I can’t wait to open,” Mel says.

So will he stay another 45 years on Post Road East?

“At least!” Mel promises.

At the end of the month, this will be just another Main Street memory.

At the end of the month, this will be just another Main Street memory.

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Eat!

Posted on January 5, 2013 | 20 comments

Over the past few years, Westport’s pizza places have multiplied like mushrooms.

The latest entrant — with a menu that includes plenty of other Italian dishes — is EATalia. (Get it?)

What makes this new restaurant blog-worthy is that it replaces another Italian place: Joe’s Pizza. The site is the Post Road, opposite the old post office.

But Joe’s did not disappear. It relocated up Main Street, to the small shopping center past Avery Place that includes Sally’s Place.

That puts it just a few pies away from Westport Pizzeria — which hasn’t changed anything (except a few prices) for 43 years, to the delight of pizzaphiles everywhere.

And — to complete the circle — the landlord for EATalia is Mel Mioli. That’s right: the owner of Westport Pizzeria.

Mamma mia!

pizza

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Jon And Rick Scream For Ice Cream

Posted on July 16, 2012 | 5 comments

Throughout Coleytown El and Middle School, then Staples, Jon Camche and Rick Snyder were best friends. Both even attend Miami universities — though Jon’s is in Florida, and Rick’s in Ohio.

As Staples juniors in 2010, they talked about opening their own business. But what kind? When they saw a card at Joe’s Pizza advertising an ice cream truck, their problem was licked.

The guy with the card — Jim Malin — had a 2nd vehicle to rent. A converted 1964 milk truck that plays “Old MacDonald,” “Twinkle, Twinkle” and (of course, because they do parties) “Happy Birthday,” the yellow ice cream wagon is in its 2nd summer as a Westport fixture.

Rick Snyder (left) and Jon Camche, with their cool yellow truck.

“Everybody Scream Ice Cream” does house calls, cookouts, corporate events — any event, anywhere in Fairfield County. Westport has strict vending rules, so the old Good Humor man driving up and down the street tinkling his bell has gone the way of, well, the milkman.

Of course, Good Humor men never had Facebook pages. Jon and Rick do.

But you can only market so much on the internet. In the ice cream world, you’ve got to deliver.

The 19-year-olds generally work from 2 p.m. until 5 or so. They have dinner, then hit prime time: 6:30 to 8:30. “It’s still light, the kids are out, they’re ready for dessert — it’s great ice cream weather,” Jon explains.

Just another hard day at work.

Jon and Rick have learned the popular places: camp bus stops like the Unitarian Church (Holiday Hills) and St. Luke’s (Playland).

Joey’s by the Shore has the beach license, and the Levitt Pavilion is also off limits. But Little League fields are fine, as long as the truck has been hired by parents.

The truck is certainly a draw — even at unexpected places. The guys ran out of gas recently on the Post Road, to the delight of a few unexpected customers.

The most popular products are Chipwich, SpongeBob Squarepants Popsicles and Choco Tacos. But, Jon notes, little kids eat just about any kind of ice cream.

Big kids too.

(To hire Everybody Scream Ice Cream, email jcamche530@aol.com, or call 203-246-1481.)

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Posted in Local business, People, Staples HS, Teenagers

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323: It’s All True

Posted on May 23, 2012 | 5 comments

Bogey’s — vacant since Hurricane Irene last August — will reopen soon.

A sign on the new restaurant — named 323, for its location at 323 Main Street — promises “It’s All True.” I have no idea what that means, but it sounds intriguing.

323 will extend the dining options on the non-chain-store end of Main Street. A new wine bar opened recently next to Sally’s Place, and Joe’s Pizza will relocate there soon.

Count one more area of downtown is livening up.

Would I lie?

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Pies!

Posted on January 14, 2011 | 6 comments

Out went the ice cream (and ice cream cakes).

In comes pie.

A small sign on the vacant Baskin-Robbins window announces the arrival  of Michele’s Pies.

Soon, we’ll join Norwalk with the opportunity to buy lemon lime pie.  Tiramisu pie.  Twisted citrus blackberry pie.  Maple pumpkin pie with a pecan streusel.  Caramel pecan chocolate pie.

Also chicken pot pies.  And Australian beef pies.

Not to mention handmade cookies, tea breads, pastries, cheesecakes, muffins, coffee, cappucino and espresso.

Our long national downtown nightmare is over.

Owner Michele Albano uses only fresh seasonal fruit — nothing canned or frozen.  Even the pumpkins are puréed by her staff.

Michele’s grandmother taught her to bake.  Her creations remind people of their own grandmothers’ pies.  At least, that’s what the website says — and would a pie-baker lie?

In high school Michele sold her pies locally.  She founded her business in her Killington condo in 2006.  Her pies quickly earned a following at farmer’s markets and craft shows in Vermont and Fairfield County.

Michele's pies won 7 (count 'em!) 1st prize ribbons at the National Pie Championship.

In 2007 Michele competed in her first National Pie Championship.  She won 1st prize in the coveted “commercial nut” category, for her chocolate pecan bourbon pie.

When demand outgrew her Killington kitchen, she headed to the big city:  Norwalk.  Her Main  Avenue location was an instant hit — but Michele did not grow too big for her toque.  She was there every day behind the counter, serving customers.

She began selling to local outlets — Oscar’s is a customer — but now she’s ready to expand to a Westport location.

Her little corner of downtown brims with dining options, though they all seem Italian:  La Villa.  Finalmente.  Joe’s Pizza.

Perhaps Michele has a baked manicotti pie up her sleeve.  Or a lasagna Bolognese pie.

All with fresh, seasonal tomatoes, of course.

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