It’s finally official.
Lorenzo and Sons Pizza -- the iconic late-night, big-slice, no-frills pizza place -- is reopen on South Street after more than 10 months out of business following a fire.
The doors at 305 South Street opened Monday morning as customers began to pour in again for the sweet sauce with salty cheese slices Lorenzo’s is known for.
But, Friday is really when Lorenzo’s becomes Lorenzo’s again as they hold a Grand Re-Opening celebration hosted by WMMR’s Preston & Steve from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Half of all proceeds from Friday will go to one of owner Giuseppe Pullizi’s favorite charities -- Philabundence.
This day seemed like it might never happen when flames tore through the beloved pizza joint with a huge painting of its founder out front last June.
"It's really a sad day for us," Pulizzi said as he faced away from the destroyed mural of his father.
That sadness turned to drive for Pulizzi as he worked with designers to bring Lorenzo’s back better than ever.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
In March, Pulizzi shared his reopening plans with NBC10.com including an updated, larger kitchen, a better system for the line and the possibility of toppings on slices for the first time. (He decided to allow toppings on slices only on Tuesdays.)
Later, NBC10.com was given the first look at the new mural out front that allows for windows and the new more spacious interior featuring stone and marble counters.
Does the new look mean a new attitude?
Pulizzi says patrons can expect him to keep a bit of his “where the customer’s never right” policies that earned Lorenzo’s its detractors but also endeared it to the tough Philly crowd.
“Same attitude, because I was born that way,” Pulizzi said.
“The people who don’t like us are going to come in to see what we’re like, again. And, the people that do love us know who we are and they will come back for what they got before.”
If you can’t make it out Friday, Lorenzo’s will be open form 11 a.m. every day until 3 a.m. Sunday to Thursday and until 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights. They also will be serving up slices at Saturday’s South Street Spring Festival.
