News

La Nova Pizza damaged seriously in fire

August 29, 2004

The Buffalo News: BUFFALO, N.Y. -- One of the world's busiest pizzerias, La Nova Pizza, suffered heavy damage in an early morning fire on Aug. 28.

Investigators believe a lit cigarette tossed into a dining room trash can likely caused the fire. No one was injured in the blaze.

The Todaro family, which owns the legendary company, vowed the pizzeria will be back in business.

"We're going to move as fast as we can to reopen," said Joseph E. Todaro Jr., who co-founded La Nova Wings with his sister Carla in 1994. "We're diverting our business to our Main Street store in Williamsville. We already have the phone numbers rerouted there."

Situated in an economically depressed neighborhood, La Nova Pizzeria employs some 150 full- and part-time workers and has a weekly payroll of about $30,000, the family said. The 10,000-square-foot restaurant operated 16 hours a day, seven days a week.

Read more ...