People are buzzing with the restored Prince Pizzeria Tower, which has bright LED lights and fresh vinyl packaging that mimics the design of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy.
About five years ago, Prince Pizzeria owner Steve Castraberti began to notice that parts of the landmark tower began to peel off.
Castraberti hired a structural engineer to assess the integrity of the tower, which was built in 1958 as part of the original restaurant owned by the Prince of Spaghetti.
Castraberti said the engineer gave the tower a thumbs up and pointed out that it was constructed of galvanized steel.
But Castraberti and his wife Trisha decided it was time to update the appearance and continue to plan to use clear LED lighting to add new letters.
The staff stripped the tower into bare metal, sanded the structure, and then covered it with vinyl. The red letters spelling "PIZZA" have been repositioned and face north and south.
The transformed tower was lit for the first time on November 9.
"So far, we have received a lot of positive feedback," Castraberti said. "The lights are brighter, but not fancy. It looks really good."
Castraberti said that once the flags and lights are installed on the top of the tower, the rehabilitation project will be completed.
The Castrabertis couple called this multi-story building the Teddy Tower to commemorate their first grandson, Theodore Steven Castraberti, born on November 1.
Castraberti told the advertiser that Teddy is now the fifth-generation Castrabertis living in the United States.
In Castraberti's eyes, this tower is like a lighthouse, attracting customers to Prince Pizza. He said that this is part of the appeal of an authentic family restaurant that can bring happy customers back.
"Like old friends, people really want to see this tower," Castellabetti said.
Castraberti's father Arthur bought Prince Pizzeria in 1961, and family members have been running the restaurant ever since.
Over the years, Prince Pizzeria has undergone several expansions, adding a multi-function hall and a laugh and comedy club. Castrabertis has always been proud of giving back to the community and supporting local charities.
Castraberti said that he feels lucky that Prince Pizzeria has performed well in the pandemic. Although many restaurants are struggling with rising food costs and labor shortages, Prince Pizzeria just announced the best month ever for sales in October.
“People are going out to eat again, they want comfort food and get together to have a good time,” Castellaberti said, adding that Prince Pizzeria also benefited from sports banquets and birthday parties booked in the multi-purpose hall. The comedian lineup was giggling.
Castraberti emphasized that he thanked all customers for patronizing Prince Pizzeria. Many regulars and first-time diners are attracted by the unique, family-friendly atmosphere (and the famous tower).
“It’s great when you see three or four generations of family members sitting at the same table enjoying food,” Castraberti said.