Pizza Post Plans Reopening In Greenwich After Huge Fire

GREENWICH, CT — For the past year, Pizza Post owner Matt Criscuolo has had one thing on his mind: his beloved customers.

As he enters the final phase of a massive rebuilding effort following a huge fire that shut down his business in October 2019, Criscuolo said he is most excited to reconnect with the community again. (To sign up for Greenwich breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

"It's been a crazy, crazy year for my brain," Criscuolo said. "I miss everyone and I miss being there for everybody, especially with everything that's happened in town with the coronavirus. To not be there to soothe everybody, it drives me crazy."

According to Criscuolo, he has been working hard over the past year to bring his business back. While work still remains and he is unable to give a specific date for when the restaurant will reopen at the Indian Field Shopping Center on East Putnam Avenue, Criscuolo said he is hoping to have the doors open in early February.

"If I can do it sooner, I will," Criscuolo said, "but there's always odds and ends and little bumps in the road...which kind of goes with construction and rebuilds."

While the space will be "100% brand new," Criscuolo emphasized the restaurant will still have the same cozy feeling Pizza Post customers have enjoyed for nearly 50 years, complete with its classic brick walls and wooden floors.

Criscuolo has expanded the restaurant by taking over space next door that formerly housed a hair salon, creating room for a separated dining area.

"By shifting over the dining area, we also have a full bathroom now," Criscuolo said. "You don't have to walk through a narrow little hallway to get to it. You have a nice big full bathroom with easy access."

He was also able to expand the restaurant's kitchen and bring in some new ovens.

"We're going to be able to put out more [food] and do it faster so that we don't get all jammed up like we used to," Criscuolo said.

Chamber of Commerce president Marcia O'Kane said it was wonderful that Pizza Post will be returning to the Greenwich business community in a "bigger and better" way.

"They have long been known to give back to the community in countless ways, including to local sports organizations and non-profits, so it will great to be able support them again," O'Kane said. "This reflects the current boom in restaurants and bakeries, who believe this is an opportune time to offer accessible comfort food."

The reopening will also be a homecoming of sorts for some staff members who worked at the restaurant before the fire, many of whom kept in touch with Criscuolo in hopes that they could eventually return to work for him.

According to Criscuolo, some returning staff members have worked at the restaurant for over a decade, including one who has been part of the Pizza Post team for over 40 years.

Criscuolo's father opened the restaurant in 1972, and though his son has always respected the legacy of what his father built, the rebuild has given Criscuolo an even greater sense of ownership over the 49-year-old business.

"It's nice because it feels like it's 100 percent completely mine from scratch now," Criscuolo said. "It was a good experience to see what it's like to build a restaurant from the ground up, whereas before I just took over the restaurant."

While the brand new environment is exciting, Criscuolo is committed to providing customers with the same menu items they have enjoyed for decades.

"I'm not looking to reinvent the wheel," Criscuolo said. "I'm not trying to change everything. The pizzas are going to be exactly like they were before, we just have better and newer equipment, but the recipes are the same for the pizzas and everything."

Criscuolo's brother, Joseph, will also be joining the team in the kitchen and hopes to bring some new menu items to the table alongside the classic favorites.

"He's a phenomenal chef," Criscuolo said. "He's been really helpful helping me come up with some cool ideas for the menu."

As he continues to put the finishing touches on the restaurant, Criscuolo said he is thankful for the overflow of support he has received over the past year from the town, his customers and the community at large.

"I love being part of this town," Criscuolo said. "I love the support we get from people, I love how proud people are of Greenwich, and they know that we've been a staple in this community forever and support us. I look forward to being back to do it again. I can't wait."