Beloved Pizzeria Returns With New Berlin Location

NEW BERLIN, WI— After a long hiatus, a favorite pizzeria returns with a new restaurant in New Berlin. Giuseppi's, 14185 W. Greenfield Ave., is now available for carryout and delivery.

Giuseppi's has served homestyle Italian cuisine since 1951. Angeline and Joseph Fugarino opened their original location on Teutonia Avenue. Their youngest daughter, Vita Fugarino, said it was their love of food and family that led them to go into business.

Joseph came from a huge family and felt happiest when sitting around the table with his siblings and extended family, his daughter said. "It was the joy of cooking and serving," she said.

Eventually, the couple and their eight children moved to Florida and opened a restaurant there. In 1975, Giuseppi's Pizza and Custard opened on Highway 100 and Bluemound Road. But it closed in 2002. Vita Fugarino said the couple wanted to go back to their roots.

Joseph Fugarino died in 2001, and Angeline died in 2019.

Their children have taken on the responsibility of running the family business. Vita said everyone shares duties, from handling social media and marketing to washing dishes. "Whatever needs to get done, we will get it done," she said.

Many of Vita's siblings started in the food industry with jobs in the family's businesses. "It was sitting around the kitchen table when the real memories were made," she said.

"She Couldn't Even Do Oatmeal Bad"

The Fugarino family loved to have guests. Vita recalled her brothers and sisters calling them in the middle of the night after they closed. It was not unheard of to ask their parents to bring people over to go swimming. Her parents would be happy to start the grill. "You never left our house hungry, ever. I mean, ever," Vita said.

What made Angeline happy was seeing her children eat and watching others enjoy what she made, Vita said.

Take meatballs, she said. When you get a good meatball, life is good. Her favorite dish at home? Pork chops in sauce. The whole house would fill with the aroma of tomatoes, garlic and pork, she said.

Vita's father would make fresh bread at home. Having it now brings tears to her eyes. "For me personally, anything my mom made was outstanding," she said. "She couldn't even do oatmeal bad."

Nostalgic Feeling

Today the next generation is offering hand-tossed pizzas and other favorites using the same family recipes people have come to love. The New Berlin location opened in February after Basil's Pizzeria closed.

"It was a quick transition for us," Vita said. "We walked in, made some dough and the sauce and started the oven. Then we got to work."

The new place keeps the same standards, such as making fresh dough daily. "My dad was a stickler about that," she said.

Not only is the Fugarino family feeling nostalgic, local residents are as well. Several people wrote about some of their memories on the restaurant's Facebook page.

"What exciting news! As a kid and teenager, I grew up within walking distance of Giuseppe’s Pizza when the originally started out on Teutonia south of Villard Avenue. I loved the pizza then and I’m sure I will love it now. I will definitely be making a visit there soon."

"Yes! Our mom & I lived on 41st & Villard and went to the Teutonia & Villard location often! I cannot wait to have a pizza from your restaurant!"

"I am so excited and can't wait to come home for a visit! I will be stopping and enjoying some pizza like the day. Wish my parents were alive to enjoy some drinks/food there once again. We loved being there!"

"I remember it came to the table on large rectangle pans. It was yummy!"

"Welcome back Giuseppi’s. The tradition continues on."

Longtime customers celebrated baby showers, birthdays and other events at past locations. Now they are older and bring their new families in, Vita said. She finds it amazing she has known many of them since she was 5 years old. Any business would love to have loyal customers like them, she said.

The new location is giving customers a piece of their past. "We are giving them good memories. good food and good friends," she said. "You treat customers like family. That is how my mom treated even people she didn't know. That is how we want to treat people."

The family also owns Cuppa Tosa, 418 N. Mayfair Road. For more information on menu items and prices, visit the family website www.giuseppispizzeria.com or the Facebook page.