Father and Son Open Pizzeria on Marble Avenue

For Matteo Zegarelli, pizza is in his blood.

Said the 22-year-old Mahopac resident, "I've been around it since I was little. I started answering phones when I was 12."

Zegarelli, who recently opened on Marble Avenue along with his father, wasn't daunted by the five established pizzerias already in the village.

"It's like a challenge, almost," said the co-owner. "Especially since there's one across the street," referring to .

The duo opened up shop on April 6, and Zegarelli said business has "been picking up" at the establishment whose name is a simple combination of the words "pizza" and "Zegarelli."

He said his father, who shares the same name, "has been doing it since he was young," too.

Together, the Zegarellis have operated more than 10 pizzerias.

"We had a bunch of pizzerias in the Bronx, the city, Yonkers," he said, but chose Pleasantville when, "we wanted to find a good place closer to home."

The family, which is 100 percent Italian, uses the generations-old Zegarelli family tomato sauce recipe on its pies, which local customers have already started taking notice of.

"They've said they liked the pizza and the sauce," revealed Zegarelli.

Going forward, the pair is looking forward to establishing a strong customer base in Pleasantville and becoming more acquainted with the community.

The pizzeria is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, accepting phone orders and walk-ins for its selection of pizza, as well as Italian appetizers, entrees and desserts. The shop also offers a catering menu.

"I like talking to customers and getting to know people," said Zegarelli. "I just hope to build up the shop and make it succesful."