Frantoni’s Woodbury location to close as community rallies behind beloved pizzeria
Supporters flood local restaurant after owners cite rising costs, while hopes remain for a future return.
A beloved Woodbury pizzeria is preparing to close its doors this weekend, but an outpouring of community support is giving the owners hope for the future.
Frantoni’s, founded in 1988 in Williston Park, has operated its Woodbury location for the past seven years. Owners say increasing expenses, including insurance, produce and rent costs, have made it impossible to sustain the business at the location.
Since announcing the closure, customers have shown up in large numbers to support the restaurant, which many describe as a staple of the neighborhood not only for its food but also for its involvement in the community.
Among those supporters is 11-year-old Asher Goodman, who has been visiting Frantoni’s since kindergarten. Goodman recently launched an Instagram page called Save Frantoni’s in an effort to support the business.
“It has amazing pizza first of all," Goodman said. "And every time I come here, I make a new memory. A new milestone."
For co-owner Anthony Suppa, the community response has been deeply meaningful during a difficult time.
“It’s heartbreaking for us," Suppa said. "It’s our income. The community though, what they’re doing and how they came out is literally life-saving for me because it just makes me know that they appreciated everything that we did and everything that we tried to do. And for them to appreciate that is unbelievable."
Sunday will be the final day of operations at the Woodbury location. However, the owners say they have not ruled out the possibility of reopening in the future.
In the meantime, customers are encouraged to visit Frantoni’s locations in Williston Park and East Meadow as supporters continue to stand behind the longtime local business.
