Bravo Pizza comes to the former Gennaros location – SILive.com

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- About two weeks away from opening Bravo Pizza, workers polished new stainless steel counters and recently installed kitchen equipment. This restaurant and sports bar soon coming to New Dorp has some big shoes to fill, said Mike Libretta, one of the owners.

I want it to be a great neighborhood place," he said, invoking the name of the buildings former tenant, Gennaros Pizzeria.

The property, near the corner of Hylan Boulevard on New Dorp Lane, is rich in pizza history.

Back in the 1960s, it was Pizza Clown. When Gennaro Jerry Chiarello and wife, Maria, bought the business, they turned the then white-and-red rounded tent structure into Pizza Town USA. By 1980, Jerry Chiarello built a new restaurant, a block-shaped 5,000-square-feet building with a casual dining area plus a side room for more formal supping and private parties. It closed on May 31, 2018. (The Gennaros of Rabs Bowling continues in Dongan Hills.)

Actually, it was a lark that Libretta and partner Frank Russo found the property at 413 New Dorp Lane. The long-time friends and their families had been looking for a spot for several years.

The bar in the sports bar section of Bravo Pizza (Courtesy of Frank Russo)

We had this planned out long before this location was available," said Russo, a bartender by trade.

We always knew we were going to do something like this, he said, nodding at Libretta, whose family owns five other parlors -- including Frankie Boy, Pizza Petes and three Bravo-brand parlors, all in Manhattan.

As a Staten Island natives story would have it, the pals go way back.

The boys were born four days apart, and their parents first met in the hospitals nursery unit and became friends. By coincidence, the Russos and Librettas discovered shortly afterward that they were neighbors on the same New Springville block.

A view of the dining area in front of the pizza counter, a familiar view to patrons of the former Gennaro's with the set up. (Courtesy of Frank Russo)

Over the years as besties and even classmates at Moore Catholic High School, the idea of a sports bar became a source of serious discussion. Librettas family was already in the pizza business.

About six years ago, that thought of a building a business together started to become a reality. Russo and Libretta started to scope out spots in their hometown.

We would call each other with different locations, said Libretta. One day driving along New Dorp Lane, he said he realized that Gennaros had closed. Shocked that a Staten Island classic was no more, he stopped in to see what had happened. He eventually connected with the landlord and rented the spot several months later.

The sports bar section of the soon-coming Bravo Pizza (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

The cavernous Bravo, with tin ceilings and glossy tile work, has separate spaces -- including the kitchen and an alcove for a few tables. There is seating for about 125 guests over two main sections -- a lounge area with flat screen TVs, a bar and table seating and a separate dining room for partakers of pizza. The latter setup is similar to that of Gennaros layout, where customers can buy slices or full pies, calzones, heroes, salads and pastas. Another familiar element of the place will be Billy Elliott, a pizziaola from the Gennaro parlor days.

Bravo looks to welcome New Dorp High School workers and students once again to a neighborhood pizzeria.

Were going to have a student special -- two regular slices and a soda for $5, said Libretta.

Soon theyll be doing test runs on the menu, which includes late-night bites.

Its a classic pizzeria, explained Libretta, adding, Were not trying to reinvent the wheel. We just want to stick to what works and stick with the basics -- good cocktails, classic Italian food, delivery and takeout."

We should be open in a week or two. The staff is ready. Mike has been training the kitchen crew at the 7th Avenue [Bravo] location, Russo reported. Its taken the entrepreneurs six months to construct the the new spot.

I am happy to bring this new pizzeria and sports bar concept to our Island. We know how well-loved Jerry was in the neighborhood and on the Island," said Libretta.

He continued, We have our work cut out for us on the standard he set on the Island about 50 years ago.

The side entrance to Bravo which allows access to the sports bar side of the restaurant.

Bravo will have a late-night menu for guests that will include pizza. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Sports memorabilia on the wall in the alcove section of Bravo that has more intimate seating. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Before the glass is installed at Bravo in the pizza pick-up area for guests (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Guests can see pizzas being produced in the front portion of the restaurant (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

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Bravo Pizza comes to the former Gennaros location - SILive.com