NFL Hall of Famer, Florida Restauranteur the Unlikely Duo Behind Newton's Latest Pizzeria

NEWTON, MA – Just how strong is the bond between Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza owner Anthony Bruno and NFL Hall of Famer Dan Marino? After befriending the Miami great, native New Yorker and lifelong Jets fan Bruno said he started pulling for the Dolphins, which some fans might consider football blasphemy.

Division rivalry aside, the duo have parlayed their friendship into an ultra-successful pizza chain, and Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza shows no signs of stopping. On the heels of opening a restaurant at 180 Needham Street in Newton, Anthony's opened a location in Cranston, RI and is eyeing Natick next as it continues its expansion into New England.

Marino first met Bruno at Anthony's Runway 84, Bruno's Italian restaurant and cocktail lounge in Fort Lauderdale, FL. When Bruno wanted to start Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza, Marino was eager to get on board.

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"Anthony's a superstar when it comes to running the business," Marino said during a visit to the Newton restaurant in April.

With Marino backing the venture, Bruno opened a pair of Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza restaurants in Fort Lauderdale and Weston, FL, and began expanding throughout the state in 2005.

Since then, 62 locations have opened on the East Coast, including New York, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and now Massachusetts and Rhode Island, with an expansion into Illinois planned for later this year. Bruno said the secret to the chain's success is keeping it simple.

The menu consists of 10 specialty pizzas, including Meatball and Ricotta, Eggplant Marino (guess whose favorite that is) and Philly Cheesesteak, pies made to order with a handful of topping choices, salads and sandwiches and chicken wings, with a New York-style cheesecake and cappuccino or espresso to polish it off.

True to his Runway 84 roots, Bruno's restaurants also offer a smattering of cocktails, wine and beer at the bar.

But the main attraction is the pizza, which is cooked by firing it in a coal oven, a style that originated in the United States with Italian-Americans. The oven is kept at an even temperature, giving each slice an even taste.

"People love the pizza and people love the wings," Bruno said. "It's a simple, well-executed menu and gives you something to fill you up."

Correction: An earlier version of this story stated the number of locations is 67. The correct number is 62.

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