BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
METUCHEN – With the proposed town center for the old Stop & Shop site looming, Olympia Keane is worried about where her family-owned La Rosa Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant on Middlesex Avenue will end up.
“I agree something needs to be done because this area has looked like this since we have been here,” said Keane, whose husband is Police Chief James Keane. “But I’m not sure where we are going to go. We definitely want to stay in this location.”
Currently, there is a big parking lot in front of the pizzeria where truckers often park their rigs to grab a slice of pizza.
“I don’t know where they are going to park with the current [proposed town center],” said Keane. “Right now, it’s very convenient for them.”
Keane rents out the building where her pizzeria is from Steven Epstein, who owns Boro Ace Hardware next door.
Many residents expressed concerns about the proposed three-story town center at a recent town meeting. The center would be comprised of specialty retail stores, bistro-style restaurants, a bank, and a specialty gourmet food market on the first floor; offices and a sports club on the second floor; and residential units on the third floor.
Old Bridge-based Renaissance Properties Inc., owns the old Stop & Shop site as well as three houses on Central Avenue. Renaissance Properties also has joint partnership with Epstein.
La Rosa Pizzeria has been at 655 Middlesex Ave. since December 1977, when Olympia Keane’s father, Luigi Gerardi, bought it from two Italian brothers.
“We have been at this location ever since and it’s family-run,” said Keane, who has owned the restaurant with her cousin since her father died. “My sister, Filomena Inghilterra, and I run the place.”
Everyone helps out around the pizzeria.
“From one generation to another, the family helps out,” said Keane. “My husband helps out along with our three children, Jimmy, 21, Gina, 19, and Michael, 17.”
Keane remembers when her husband became police chief.
“I remember people were asking when he became chief if he would still continue to work at the pizza place,” she said. “It’s family-run and we needed him to help. What is good is he is just as close, if the guys [police officers] need him, he is right around the corner.”
Keane’s parents came over to the United States from Naples, Italy, in 1954 and settled in New York.
“My father picked up making pizzas in Brooklyn,” she said. “Then they moved to New Jersey, and in 1960 opened up Central Pizzeria in Somerville, which they owned for 16 years.”
In 1977, Gerardi bought La Rosa Pizzeria. The rest is history.
“We have the same people come in from 30 years ago with their little ones,” said Keane. “Now, the kids are all grown up and they bring their children.”
When St. Francis is in school session, La Rosa’s provides 30-40 pies for the children’s lunch on Friday, said Keane.
The pizzeria started out serving only pizza and hot and cold subs, said Keane.
“That still is our signature item, which is primarily 75 percent of our business, but we have expanded to other entrees,” she said.
Keane would like to have a bigger location, but wants to keep the restaurant family-oriented.
“We don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable,” she said. “We still want our construction workers and children after baseball and soccer games. We’ll see what happens. We definitely want to stay in this area because it’s conveniently located.”