Angelo’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria Opens in New Providence

Angelo’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria is up and running in the borough, serving up smiles to customers after its opening on Thursday.

Angelo Gencarelli, Jr., owner of the new restaurant that replaced Pioneer Pizza in the Village Shopping Center on Springfield Avenue, said he decided to open up a shop in New Providence after closing his previous ones in Clifton and Nutley mainly because of the people.

“I really did like the area. It’s really quiet,” said Gencarelli, originally from Nutley. “The people here are nice. I believe in the town as up-and-coming.”

Gencarelli had hoped to open his restaurant by April or May, but construction delays held the company back.

“It’s part of the business,” he said.

Now open, Gencarelli and his staff offer more than 40 different types of pizza and other Italian favorites, but he can make any type of pizza a customer may desire.

“I can make any type of pizza good,” he said.

And most agree — the Clifton Journal in 2009 voted his pizza as one of the best in the city.

Gencarelli hopes for the same success in New Providence.

“I’ve only been here so far for eight hours, and it’s already a hit here,” he said.
“It seems to be well received here also.”

Customer Lisa Barfield, who has lived in New Providence for 10 years, brought her children, Jack and Kate, to the pizzeria Friday for dinner.

“So far [the staff was] very nice, very courteous. We can’t wait to try the pizza,” she said. “I love what they did with the inside. It looks very rustic.”

Barfield said she thinks the additions that have been made to the Village Shopping Center are great.

“I love to shop downtown," she said. "I love that they’re bringing in new businesses. I’d rather shop here than in other neighboring towns. I hope they keep doing it."

Angelo’s also offers take-out, delivery and catering, and all orders are prepared fresh to order.

“Sometimes it may be a longer wait during peak hours, but I think more people would agree it’s worth the wait,” the owner said.

Gencarelli said he enjoys providing catering for everything from small to large events, as it offers customers a different, more economical alternative.

“I feel I really specialize in catering large events," he said. "I try to excel at every source."

Gencarelli first opened his pizzerias because of his family, who were also in the restaurant business.

“I remember being 8, 10 years old and seeing my cousins [working],” he said. “It looked fun.”

Now, Gencarelli looks forward to becoming involved in the New Providence community.

“I certainly like the area. I’m committed to it,” he said.

He also hopes to become involved with the schools and other local organizations.

“If you give me a chance, you’ll like me, and you’ll love my food, and we’ll build a great customer-owner relationship,” Gencarelli said.