By Nick Christophers

We have tried pizza in so many different locations and argue with friend’s which place has the best slice. Well in the now diversified Williamsburg section of Brooklyn a classic style pizza location stands out from the others. Tony’s Pizza, tucked into the gentrified city of Williamsburg opened its doors in 1953 by the original owner Tony Coppola. Since then, the neighborhood and pizzeria have altered their appearance. Paul and his brother Frank have adapted to the changing surroundings and the varied delicacies of the pizza industry.

The vision of the original owner was to offer quality food, especially its signature pizza slices. Back then the area was inhabited by people from Naples and Sicily where the owners needed to be authentic, which was paramount. The neighborhood still has a sprinkle of Sicilians and Neapolitans but people from all walks of life have transplanted the old residents. Despite that, the brothers have diversified their menu, like offering pizza with varied toppings and staying consistent in this new style.

“The vision was to provide quality pizza to the neighborhood. Today the vision is still the same, over the years pizza of course has changed. We still provide quality pizza with fresh ingredients; however, it’s no longer classic Neapolitan and Sicilian slices. The diverse toppings we offer is what keeps the customers coming in and the consistency of our product day in and day out is what we take pride in the most.”

The pizzeria has been a staple in the neighborhood for over seventy years, which says a lot. It is not your typical pizzeria as it offers a walk into a time-capsule atmosphere with photos on the wall of not only the store many years ago but also of the neighborhood. People sometimes come in just to reminisce about the days long gone and how the pizzeria was a connection to the heart of it. When it comes to a favorite item off the menu the brothers mentioned how the different thin crust pan pizzas are a hit. For example, thin crust pan pizzas like the Drunken Vodka and our Tomato Pie are a popular item for the locals and the old timers.

For many places the economy has made it slightly more difficult to operate, especially when you wish to retain the clientele you have garnered over the years. As Paul explained, the pizzerias of long ago were major money makers but they have changed since then. The ingredients were more affordable, which in turn gave families an option for lunch or dinner. The cost of items now across the board have fallen on the customer. Even with this known fact the brothers have managed to maintain competitive pricing compared to other shops like their own. So, if you are in the diverse city of Williamsburg on Graham Avenue then you need to pop into Tony’s Pizza for a delicious slice and an atmosphere that will bring you back to the days when it was cool just hanging out at the local pizzeria.