Giovanni’s Moves to a New Bigger Location, Awards Initial Culinary Scholarship

The former River Road location, and its eight parking spots, were friendly to the Aluotto family, owners since 1997 of Giovanni’s Deli.

Friendly, that is, until recently. Their popularity had grown so much over the years that the time had come to find a bigger spot to accommodate cars and customers.

22-08 Morlot Avenue, right around the corner from Fair Lawn High School and accompanied by 24 parking spaces, was the spot.

“Crazy is good,” said owner John Aluotto. Giovanni’s officially opened at the new location on Wednesday, July 6. Business has been non-stop for John, his brothers Anthony and Josh, and mom Santa, and the rest of the crew. “People want to come in. They’re excited about the move.”

“Will,” says Anthony when I asked him how they handle all the orders.

The brothers did all the work themselves at the 42-seat deli, operating the River Road location, and then at night heading to Morlot Avenue, building the tables the customers currently sit in. Formerly in construction, that experience came in very handy.

“We needed three times the size we had,” says John. “This is a much better location. The high school kids can walk here.”

And Fair Lawn High School has always played a key role for Giovanni’s. The deli on many Friday evenings holds fundraising dinners to benefit the sports teams, Parent Teacher Association, and much more. They are, indeed, community driven. “Our philosophy has always been if the community is strong our business is strong. That’s a fact.”

“I was five houses away from the River Road location,” says Fair Lawn resident Brian Geremia, 40. “I had been going there since day one. It used to be an original egg cream place. Nothing lasted until these guys (the Alouttos and Giovanni’s) came along.”

Geremia says his favorite is the very popular #57, a breaded chicken with the late Giuseppe Michel Aluotto’s famous pink vodka sauce. Geremia, however, prefers it on pasta. “I’m a customer here,” he says with a smile, “but they call me family.”

There are some welcome additions to the menu. The first is red sauce, which, due to a lease agreement with a neighboring pizzeria on River Road. The family was unable to make at their old location, therefore the #57 sauce. “The #57 came out of that because we couldn’t make chicken parmigiana,” John Aluotto says fondly. Can the “lemonade out of lemons” maxim bear any more proof? “Also, our new special is personal pizzas. We’re hoping it takes off, and so far it’s going real well. We’ve been selling about 20 – 25 per day.”

Giovanni’s has also created the Giuseppe Michel Aluotto Culinary Scholarship to be awarded to a Fair Lawn High School student who is pursuing a career in the food industry, named in honor of their dad who passed away suddenly in February. The Aluottos presented senior Alex Callons $750 at graduation, and he will now go on to the Culinary Institute of America.

Giovanni's, 22-08 Morlot Avenue, (201) 791-1911, www.giovannis-deli.com