Raffaele's Pizza, a neighborhood fixture in North Central Phoenix near 19th Avenue and Glendale Avenue, says it is being pushed out after roughly 50 years in business. Regulars and staff describe the spot as far more than a quick-slice stop, talking about a family-run corner of the neighborhood with a steady flow of repeat customers. The news has stirred anger and sadness among longtime patrons who worry redevelopment will knock out a small-business anchor on the block.
Redevelopment could replace the pizzeria
As reported by Arizona's Family, Raffaele's says redevelopment plans could swap the longtime shop for a larger convenience store. The station's brief segment relays the owners' concern that new construction will displace the restaurant after decades of serving the neighborhood.
Decades on 19th Avenue
The restaurant's own website lists the Phoenix location and notes that the business has been family-run and "Serving You Since 1974," marking roughly a 50-year run in the area. Raffaele's Pizza currently includes the Phoenix storefront near 19th and Glendale among its locations.
Customers say it’s the end of an era
Online reviews and local chatter show how many families have leaned on the spot for generations. Community pages and review sites carry years of praise for the Sicilian slices and the family feel. One longstanding listing on Tripadvisor tags the shop as a neighborhood favorite reaching back decades.
Part of a bigger development wave
The friction between small, family-run restaurants and bigger retail redevelopment is playing out across the Valley, where mega convenience-store projects and travel centers have been drawing headlines. Arizona outlets have noted major efforts such as the first Arizona Buc-ee’s in Goodyear, signaling strong developer appetite for large convenience formats in the region. ABC15 has tracked those initiatives as they move forward.
At the time of the report, the owners had not announced a firm timeline for a move or a confirmed sale of the property, and Arizona's Family did not list a final closing date. Customers say they are still processing the change and watching for updates from the restaurant and any planning filings that could spell out what comes next for the corner.
