Experienced Restaurateur Opens Pizza Shop In Enfield [UPDATED]

ENFIELD, CT — A restaurateur with many years of experience and a well-earned reputation for preparing high-quality food has opened a takeout pizza shop with an old-school concept in the heart of Hazardville, as Dominic's On The Ave officially opened for business Friday at 304 Hazard Ave.

The shop is named after Zucco's 18-year-old son, Dominic, who is just one family member involved in the business; Zucco's dad, mom, stepfather and granddaughter were all on hand during an interview with Patch several weeks ago.

Zucco began his journey in the food service industry as a bartender at Clemenza's in Springfield, Mass., where he became fascinated with pizzamaking. At age 24, he opened his own shop, Brianna's, on Main Street in the Indian Orchard section of Springfield. He and his family also operated "the largest pizza operation at the Big E," New England's largest state fair, which draws tens of thousands of visitors each fall.

"My mom has been in food service for over 40 years, and I've had her work ethic instilled in me. I earned a reputation in western Massachusetts for putting out a good product, and I want to bring that to Enfield," Zucco said.

He originally began eying the small white building in Hazardville several years ago, when Joe Nosal decided to retire from the business after operating Joey's Pizza for many years. Zucco did not open up shop at the time, but after seeing a number of pizza shops come and go over the last few years, he contacted Nosal, who still owns the building, and "decided to come in here and take a shot," he said.

He has done extensive renovation work to the 95-year-old building the past few months in preparation for his new venture.

"It took me a while to rehab this building, but every piece of equipment has been refurbished or replaced," he said.

The menu, which is exclusively takeout, features hot and cold grinders, meatball and sausage strombolis and salads, in addition to whole pizza pies and dollar slices.

"I wanted the menu to fit the building, and wanted to offer dollar slices to get people to try our food," Zucco said. "We will offer four varieties of slices a day, with a different daily specialty slice."

The shop will be open Mondays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Zucco believes once people try the offerings at the new site, they will become frequent customers.

"We hope people want a premium product with quality ingredients, and we want people to come in and try it out," he said. "When you come in here, you are part of our family. Pizza brings families together."