Carmela's Pizzeria & Restaurant in Franklin Square is officially back in the family, and locals wasted no time proving they missed it. The neighborhood staple reopened Friday with the Calia clan once again behind the counter and a one-day "1971-price" pie special that had the line snaking out the door.
The shop first opened in 1971, then briefly left family hands after a change of ownership in 2024. Now it is back under Calia control. As reported by ABC7 New York, retired sanitation worker Rick Calia is the new owner, while original owners Bart and Carmela were on hand for the emotional reopening. Bart told the station that "the recipe has not changed since 1971," and Carmela asked customers to "remind my son that I built this place with us" as relatives stepped back in to revive the family operation.
Reopening Deals and Grand Opening Plans
According to News 12, the soft opening leaned into nostalgia in a big way. Whole pies went for $2.40, matching the 1971 sticker price, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a student special earlier in the day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Calia family has set a grand reopening for Sunday, April 26.
Five Decades of Pizza, a Short Pause
Bart and Carmela launched Carmela's in 1971 and built it as a classic family-run joint. Their son Anthony was expected to take over before his death in 2004, according to ABC7 New York. The Calias eventually sold the restaurant in early 2024. The family now says problems under subsequent ownership pushed them to reclaim the business to preserve the long-standing recipes and routines regulars grew up with.
Neighborhood Welcome
For Franklin Square residents, the return of Carmela's feels less like a new opening and more like a neighborhood reunion. Last year's abrupt closure sparked plenty of chatter and concern in the community, according to Massapequa Daily Voice. With the Calias back, owners say they want Carmela's to remain a go-to local hangout: familiar pies, familiar faces and that same family recipe people have argued about over folding versus fork-and-knife for decades.
The restaurant at 912 Hempstead Turnpike is moving from soft opening into full swing, with its grand opening on Sunday. Hours, pickup and delivery information are listed on the restaurant's site. Carmela's website also outlines catering options and online-ordering partners now serving the relaunched spot.
