BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer
PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Above, Victoria Madaffari works on an order Tuesday at Mr. Pizza in East Brunswick as her father, Cosmo, takes an order from a customer. Cosmo Madaffari says his job at Mr. Pizza is “directing traffic.” His daughter, Victoria, 19, is the new owner of the Route 18 business, which opened in 1969. EAST BRUNSWICK – It’s the kind of pizza that has people coming from all around to sink their teeth into, according to the Madaffari family.
Victoria Madaffari, 19, is the new owner of Mr. Pizza and Pasta, located at 233 Route 18 south in Loehmann’s Plaza. She purchased the business with the help of her father, Cosmo, and plans on continuing the restaurant’s long-standing tradition of serving freshly made foods. Mr. Pizza has been doing so since 1969, though its ownership has changed hands a couple times.
“People come from everywhere for this pizza,” Cosmo said, noting that one customer the other day said she drove 1,100 miles, from Florida, for a slice of the action. “People come from all over and they speak all different languages.”
Victoria, who previously worked as a certified massage therapist and holistic healer, said she has always wanted to own her own business. Her father wanted to make sure that dream came true.
Cosmo said he and his daughter, who recently moved from East Brunswick to North Brunswick, discussed other kinds of businesses and considered buying a deli in Milltown, but ultimately decided on Mr. Pizza after Victoria learned it was for sale.
“She told me about it and I said, ‘OK, we’ll buy it,’” Cosmo said.
Victoria noted that her father had always wanted to own a pizzeria, so he jumped at the chance to help his daughter do just that. She said they would have settled for a deli, but when the pizzeria opportunity came up, they were thrilled.
“I always wanted to own my own business,” she said.
The family is quick to note that Mr. Pizza is not your ordinary pizza place. All the food is made fresh on a daily basis – the bread and sauces are made on the premises. The cheese, Victoria said, is the best you can get.
“Everything is freshly made,” Cosmo said. “Nothing sits here. And nothing comes out of a can.”
Working with Victoria and Cosmo at the restaurant are a pizza cook and another cook who makes pretty much everything that isn’t pizza.
“I’m here to direct traffic,” Cosmo said of his own role.
Adding to the family atmosphere is the fact Cosmo’s son and Victoria’s brother, Cosmo, 12, also helps out where he can.
“My little brother does little things around here, though he doesn’t actually work for us,” Victoria said.
Though she was previously self-employed, this is Victoria’s first venture into owning her own business.
She noted that the hours are long and the job can be stressful, but it’s worth it.
“Owning a business is stressful but has a lot of rewards,” she said.
This is also a first for her father, who has worked a variety of jobs in the past, from home improvements and auto mechanics to short-order cooking.
The restaurant hours are Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.