South Jersey pizzeria closes its doors after 35 years
BURLINGTON TWP. – Maurice Evola made a tough decision about the future of his beloved pizza shop, but he feels it was the right time to close the doors.
September 24 was the final day for Brothers Pizza in Burlington Township where it was a fixture in the community for roughly 35 years.
A few recent health issues, coupled with the challenge of finding steady employees made the decision a little easier for Evola, whose late father Pietro started the pizza shop in Burlington Township after buying the space, Evola shared.
“It was family-owned and operated,” Evola said. “It was me, my brother and my father. My brother had a pizza shop in Palmyra. I stayed here and my dad went back and forth. Then my father passed away, my brother, Vito, sold and went back to Italy and I just stayed here.
“I came to a decision. My health is not that great. I broke my ankle last September. If it wasn’t for my son and a couple of friends that helped me out here, I would’ve had to close. Now, I really can’t find workers. I’m afraid if something happens to me, I can’t operate so I had an opportunity and I went with it.”
What’s next for Brothers Pizza owner?
Evola, a Delran resident, said he sold the space and it will soon become a Mexican restaurant.
“It was very, very hard. We had a lot of people here. A lot of people hit me up. Some from Florida, other people that grew up here from Kansas, Maryland. A lot of kids that grew up here and have a history with us. There’ve been relationships made here and relationships broken here. I’ve been like a father figure to a lot of these kids. They had nowhere to go, they came here. They had no money, I fed them.
“I’m getting my health in check and then I’m going to go visit my brother in Italy. Then when I come back, regroup and see what I plan on doing.”
Their father Pietro, who had been a Merchant seaman serving in the oil industry in his native Italy according to his obituary, emigrated to the United States in 1978 and started Sal’s Pizza in Palmyra, initially. He died in 2008.
“It started in Palmyra,” Evola said. “From there, my father bought this place and we just started working and that was it.”
A note of goodbye from South Jersey pizza shop owner
Word spread quickly that Evola planned to close the shop, known for its pizza, salads, wings, wraps and much more after he posted a note on September 18 on the Burlington 08016 Facebook page.
Burlington County pizza shop closes Hurry! You have only a few days to have one last slice at this Burlington County favorite
"It’s with a heavy heart that I announce this. All the friendly faces, regular customers, friends and family I have made here, will severely be missed. There has been a ton of memories, not just from the food I served but all of the good times we’ve had ... It’s been a good run," his post read in part.
He thanked “anyone and everyone” that has supported him and the shop through the years.
“I do not know what the future holds for me, but I will always cherish the friends, family and memories I have made here.”
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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Burlington County pizza shop closes after 35 years in business
