4 JULY 8, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Minitalia Pizzeria owner honored for
his 43 years of service to Ridgewood
BY JULIA MORO
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
Councilman Robert Holden visited
Minitalia Pizzeria last week to
recognize owner Rocco LaBianca
for his delicious pizza and service to the
community.
On Monday, June 28, Holden presented
LaBianca with a New York City
Council proclamation for 43 years of
pizza making in Ridgewood.
“Generations of my constituents have
been raised on his excellent pizza,”
Holden said. “No matter how you slice
it, our district has some of the best
pizza in the city and Minitalia is a great
example.”
LaBianca said this was something he
never expected to happen to him, but
made him feel so appreciated.
“When you do something that you
love, and then other people come and
give you recognition, it makes you
feel good,” LaBianca said. “I not only
impress myself, I impress other people.
It was really nice and I’ll remember it
for the rest of my life.”
LaBianca was born in Italy and came
to America in 1971. He realized his
passion when he saw a man fl ipping
pizza dough in the air through a restaurant
window.
“It was love at fi rst sight,” LaBianca
said. “There was this little place, this
guy was fl ipping the pie and he caught
my eye as I was walking. I said to myself,
‘That’s what I want to do.’”
When he was just 13 when he
started working as a dishwasher for
a restaurant in the Bronx. There, he
learned how to cook and make pizza.
LaBianca is a staple in the Ridgewood
community. He said that his customers
have turned into family, and he works
seven days a week to provide for them.
“They love me back through good
times and bad,” LaBianca said. “The only
time I took off I was diagnosed with colon
cancer. I told my customers I had to
take off for a family emergency, and that
I didn’t know when I’d be back, but
I’d be back. I’m always positive in life.”
When LaBianca came back to work
aft er taking time off , he was welcomed
back with cards and letters of wellwishes.
LaBianca said he makes it look
easy, but working as hard as he does is
anything but easy.
“They tell me I’m a workaholic. I tell
them when you love something you
keep going,” LaBianca said. “And the
love that you get from your customers,
the jokes, the bonding, the respect and
the good pizza — 43 years later, I’m still
around and loved by my community.”
LaBianca was diagnosed with colon
cancer 13 years ago, but two years ago
he again faced health complications. At
this point, LaBianca has grandchildren,
and has learned not to sacrifi ce his family
for his business.
“It’s nice to make a dollar, but money is
not everything,” LaBianca said. “I don’t
want to keep pushing and God forbid
something happens.”
LaBianca is looking to retire as soon
as the right buyer comes around. He
wants the community to know that
though he is looking to retire, he will
always be in the neighborhood.
Councilman Robert Holden visited Minitalia Pizzeria to award the owner
a NYC proclamation. Courtesy of Holden’s offi ce
At This
Farmstand
Buy fresh,
locally-grown
vegetables,
fruits, eggs,
honey, bread,
and more.
Follow Us grownyc org
link
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
