By Sam Howe & Friends (tips and comments welcome: streetbeat@brooklyneagle.net)
For Louis Timero it feels like his life is coming full circle. Standing in front of the future Ignazio's Pizza (in-yats-zio) at 4 Water St., near Pete's Downtown under the Brooklyn Bridge (UTB), this 59-year old says he didn't realize how homesick he was for Brooklyn and New York until just recently.
This Bensonhurst native grew up eating his mother's homemade pizza and visiting his local bakeries for sicilian (especially at Rex's on 86th Street) and his local pizza parlors for the thin slices.
“Back then, bakery squares cost 10 cents and slices cost a quarter, so for a buck, I had a Thanksgiving dinner.” His father owned a saloon on the Bowery and because of its musical tenants upstairs, evolved into the legendary jazz hall, The Five Spot Cafe.
“Those were interesting times,” he said. “Fortunately, I could make pizza a lot better than I could play music.” After more than 15 years making pizza in the city, he decamped for northern Connecticut because in the late 1980's he became aware that there were no real Italian pizzeria's there.
“It was like the '48 Gold Rush,” he said. Soon his Luna Pizza near Hartford expanded into six other locations.
But his Brooklyn godson called him back. "We saw this location, with the Bridge, the Ferries, the view, and the history, and I knew this was it. And as a fan of Whitman, I have always believed that pizza is one of the most democratic foods.”
Timero says his landlords have been great, and the interior will be carefully designed with a sense of history in his father's honor (Ignazio is still with us). He will also have a baby-grand piano. But pizza, and the art of pizza, will be the focus. As much as we love the fall, we can't wait for this place to open, and to have this artist in our midst again. And yes, for those interested, he will serve slices, but only fresh from the oven. For sure there will be more to come and my prediction is it will become a spot for locals, travelers, and even the discerning chowhounders, eaters, and pizzaphiles. Welcome Back.
© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2007
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