Business & Tech

Espo's Pizzeria Opens With Three Culinary Chefs

Espo's Pizzeria & Italian Grille opens

Homemade food made by three culinary chefs mark the start of Espo’s Pizzeria & Italian Grille at Laurel Plaza on Route 9 in Lanoka Harbor.

At 10 a.m. this morning, the owners of Espo’s cut a ribbon in honor of their opening day.

Espo’s is “a dream come true” for owner Anthony Esposito, 27, of Lacey Township as he dreamed of having his own pizzeria since a child.

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Anthony’s flair and passion for food came from being around his mother and grandmother in the kitchen growing up, he said.

“I was constantly around food,” Anthony said. “I knew what I wanted young and I got good at it.”

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His father, Francesco Esposito, would bring him to different pizza shops. He also owned the coffee shop, Café Napoli in Summit, and Piccolo Italia in Scotch Plains for a few years when Anthony was a child.

“He influenced me. He was my mentor; he was my right hand man. After a while in an Italian household, they turn into your best friend, especially as an only child,” Anthony said.

When Anthony was very young, his father had a severe stroke and became paralyzed.

“I only knew him paralyzed,” Anthony said.

The two dreamed of Anthony owning his own place one day.

Before Anthony’s father passed away at 62 in October 2010, he left his job as an executive chef at Tun Tavern in Atlantic City to start his own pizzeria. He began developing Espo’s in December.

“I’m looking at it as unfinished business,” Anthony said. “This is for him.”

On the walls of Espo's is a dedication to Anthony’s father that says, “To Papa, for always making me feel like I could fly and believing in me. Thank you for your love and support. This pizzeria is for you! Cheers! Forever in our Hearts.”

Anthony, a graduate from the Academy of Culinary Arts in Mayslanding, New Jersey, was also a sous-chef at Borgata in Atlantic City.

Espo’s is unique in that way, Anthony said. Typically people with culinary degrees do not work in a mom-and-pop shop, he said.

Three of the chef’s, including Anthony, graduated from culinary schools. Jimmy Magueri graduated from Johnson and Wales and Carl Pennauchi graduated from the Academy of Culinary Arts as well. Both grew up in Lacey Township.

All of the workers associated with Espo’s are hometown bred and grew up together.

“If it wasn’t for my good friends and family, none of this would be possible,” Anthony said. “The energy that we have in here, we joke around and we get work done. It’s a fun atmosphere.”

Espo’s specialties include their homemade pizzas and soups, Anthony said.

“It’s going to be made from scratch and made with love,” Anthony said.

The Italian grille has over 17 different kinds of pizzas and a variety of appetizers, garden salads, strombolis and calzones, and subs.

“It’s so great to see businesses opening up in these difficult economic times. A lot of the young kids who grew up here are staying in town and opening businesses in town. And the community will always step up knowing these are hometown boys and girls who have come through the system,” Mayor Gary Quinn said.

The redecorating of the place mesmerized Quinn, he said.

Anthony gutted and redecorated the place himself with one helper, he said.

“The fact that he’s a trained culinary chef, I think this place is going to have nothing but success,” Quinn said.


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