www.BXTimes.com BRONX WEEKLY March 8, 2020 8
Pelham Parkway mourns pizza maker’s passing at 57
TOP $ PAID
FOR JUDAICA
COLLECTIBLES
HOUSE
CALLS
SAME SAME DAY
DAY
SERVICE
SERVICE
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
HOUSE
CALLS
SERVING BRONX
AND THE ENTIRE
TRI-STATE AREA
ANTIQUES AND ESTATE BUYERS
WE PAY $ CASH $ FOR
ALL GOLD, GOLD & STERLING SILVER
COSTUME JEWELRY, ALL COINS, PAPER
MONEY & STAMP COLLECTIONS
ALL GOLD...BROKEN OR NOT
PRE- 1960 FURNITURE, CLOCKS & WATCHES
(WORKING OR NOT) TIFFANY,
BACCARAT, LALIQUE
The List is Endless
YERS
SEE OUR AD IN THE SUNDAY POST
ASK FOR CHRISTOPHER
www.AntiqueAndEstateBuyers.com
for Antique
Q
ES
MILITARY
Collections Wanted
Swords, Knives,
Helmets, etc.
ANTIQUES AND ESTATE BUYERS
We buy anything old. One piece or house full.
WILL TRAVEL. WE MAKE HOUSE CALLS.
FREE
Estimate
WILL TRAVEL
ENTIRE TRI-STATE
THE NEW BRONX
CHAMBER of COMMERCE
invites you to attend
“Valiant Women of the Vote”
honoring JENNIFER RIVERA, KASIRER
FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020
11:30 A.M. 2:00 P.M.
VILLA BARONE MANOR
737 Throggs Neck Expwy, Bronx, NY
Special Guest: ACTRESS/SINGER – LAYLA CAPERS
Chamber Members: $75 | Non-Members: $85 | Table of Ten: $700
Sponsorships Available
For more information call (718) 828-3900 or email us at events@bronxchamber.org
NYC Concilman
Mark Gjonaj
The
Joe Chiodi of John and Joe’s
Pizzeria, who passed away last
month.
Photo courtesy of Councilman Mark
Gjonaj’s offi ce
The memorial for Joe Chiodi, co-owner of John and Joe’s Pizzeria, who passed away on Sunday, February
23. Schneps Media Jason Cohen
BY JASON COHEN
For nearly 40 years Joe
Chiodi and his uncle John
ran John and Joe’s Pizzeria
in Pelham Parkway. Sadly,
on Sunday, February 23, Joe
passed away. His death was
sudden and took the community
by surprise. At just
56, with three kids, his life
was cut short. The businessman
who always left a smile
on customers’ faces will be
sorely missed. The pizzeria
located at 749 Lydig Avenue
has been open for 37 years.
Since his death a memorial
and a mural were created
outside of the pizzeria.
John said a part of him is
now gone and will never be
replaced. While they were 14
years apart in age, the two
had a close bond.
“I’m emotional, it’s my
nephew,” John said. “We
grew up together. He’s the
other half just like I was his
other half.”
It wasn’t just a pizzeria;
it was their second home.
For almost four decades they
were an integral part of the
community. They knew the
teachers, parents, kids and
everyone that came in.
According to John, Joe
never let anyone leave the
place hungry even if they
didn’t have money.
“This is a family place,”
he said. “We were always together.
It was always special
to work with family.”
He described Joe as a nice
funny guy who liked sports
and cared about everybody.
Since his death the outpouring
from the neighborhood
has been tremendous.
Grace Gusmano, a teacher at
P.S.105 at 725 Brady Avenue
said she and her colleagues
have been coming to the pizzeria
for many years and Joe
was always nice to them.
“He was a staple in the
community,” Gusmano said.
“He was here all the time
with a smile. He’s going to be
surely missed.”
A day after his passing an
effort was launched to coname
the street outside the
store after him. Chris Alessandro
created an online
petition and as of press time
it has garnered more than
5,000 signatures, with a goal
of 7,500.
“The loss of Joe has
rocked our community.
Within one hour of creating
a Facebook page in Joe’s
memory there were over 500
members and an out pouring
of stories and photos of
those who were touched by
Joe and how he helped them
get through good and bad
times in their lives,” the petition
states. “We hope you
will consider a street naming
in his honor as well as
the establishment he and his
Uncle John have created.”
Among those that signed
the petition was Councilman
Mark Gjonaj.
“As we mourn the passing
of Joe, a legend in the
community, it would be my
honor to make the street
renaming possible to remember
someone who has
become a staple and part of
this community and will be
dearly missed,” Gjonaj said
on Facebook. “Heartfelt
condolences to his family,
friends and the community.
May he rest in peace and
may his memory be eternal!”
link
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.AntiqueAndEstateBuyers.com
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.AntiqueAndEstateBuyers.com
link