'Please Don't Sell, Mario' Beg Customers Of Hoboken Pizza Shop

HOBOKEN, NJ — Among the more than 20 pizzerias in mile-square Hoboken, Mario's Pizza is a mainstay: For the free turkey dinners it gives to the needy on Thanksgiving; for the traditional pizzas with unusual toppings, for the kids' shows and Yankee games often playing on its TVs, and, well, for the fact that it faithfully delivers sangria, a popular feature among pandemic-weary moms.

A brief announcement on owner Mario Albunia's personal Facebook page Friday, in which he said he wanted to sell the store for $4.25 million, brought wails of "Nooooo" in community Facebook groups.

"For sale, Hoboken well-established pizza business 36 years fast food with liquor license corner building," Albunia wrote. "With two apartments. Seating indoor and outdoor when it’s nice out. 4.25 mil. You get two free weeks to Casa Albunia, Santa Maria Italy for 10 years on the beach."

A trickle of comments turned into a cascade.

"Please don't sell, Mario," wrote one woman. "I have many moms who back me up."

"Mario Albunia," added one of them, "If these women who have hearts of gold and love that's more pure than your garlic knots...can't convince you?? We love you and so do all our children."

After more cries of disbelief, Albunia said the 36-year-old store will stay open for the time being. But he added: "Too many years in this business want to have some time with my boys. I'm getting too old."

An employee reached at the eatery on Monday night said Mario wasn't available to comment, but that they weren't going to close any time soon.

"We're just trying to sell the store," he said. "It's not like he's retiring next week or next month."

"All the best Mario," wrote a fan on Facebook. "You so very much deserve it and worked hard for it."

But a cynical commenter suggested that something's cooking besides the garlic knots.

"All the best Mario!" wrote the commenter. "Did you get a Front Office Job with the Yankees?"

Mario's Classic Pizza is located at Eighth and Garden streets. It proclaims that it's "owned and operated by off the boat Italians. Home of Hoboken's best slice and $2 drafts all day and every day."

Got news? Email caren.lissner@patch.com. Got photos? Please include express written permission from the photographer for us to use them. To be the first to get free news alerts with breaking stories in your town, or to get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.