|
BANGOR – If you’re
not happy with the dozens of pizzerias and sub
shops in the Greater Bangor area, there’s a new
one vying for your attention.
Well, they’re actually not that new.
 Ellsworth-based
Finelli Pizza Pronto opened a new location June
22 in Bangor at 213 Ohio Street, offering New
York style pizza, calzones, sandwiches, pasta
and salads. Now in its sixth year in Ellsworth,
owner Paul Schneider decided to try the larger,
albeit more competitive, market in Bangor.
“A friend said, ‘Boy, you gotta open up in
Bangor. There’s nothing really like it up
there,’” Schneider, 61, said of his decision to
expand. “Competition is good for business, and I
think there’s plenty of money [in Bangor] for
everybody to get some market share.”
According to Schneider, who owns the location in
Ellsworth with his wife, Linda, he partnered
with Rich LaVecchia for the Bangor location. The
eatery sells New York style pizza, featuring a
thin, firm crust where the dough is normally
tossed in the air before it’s cooked in a
brick-lined oven. The pizza differs from the
more traditional style that has a thicker, more
pliable crust, or even that of the deep-dish
style – also called Chicago or pan pizza - found
at Uno or Pizza Hut.
The expansion to Bangor was not as easy as they
had hoped - Schneider said they looked for an
available location for about a year before
finally settling on the Ohio Street spot after a
friend found it.
“The zoning [in Bangor] is crazy,” he said of
the various locations they looked at. The Ohio
Street one was attractive due to its continuous
use over the years as a service station, then a
restaurant in an otherwise residential area. “It
was in a zone where no other restaurant could be
there,” he added.
The location in Bangor is slightly different
from their restaurant in Ellsworth. You won’t
find as extensive a menu or sit down dining, but
rather an operation geared for take-out and
delivery.
“In Ellsworth, we have pasta, we have salads,
and we also make pulled pork that I actually do
with a smoker at home. There’s not really a lot
of room for that in Bangor,” he said.
With a complement of six employees - they have
eight in Ellsworth - the eatery offers
traditional pizza toppings as well as the more
eclectic Pesto Tomato, Sun Pie, Satyricon (a
pizza with mozzarella, Italian sausage, ricotta,
tomato and basil) and Pizza Bianca specialties.
Though some may consider such offerings gourmet
pizzas, Schneider disagrees.
“Pizza is pizza,” he said, adding he wouldn’t
want their pizza to be branded as such.
Prices run $6.75 for a small 12-inch pizza to
$13.95 for a large 18-inch. A large specialty
pizza will run you $17.75. Schneider said their
prices are in line with other area restaurants
serving traditional pizza.
“My prices, dollar for dollar, are pretty much
the same as everyone else,” he said.
So if you’re hungry for pizza and want to try
the New York style, check out Finelli Pizza
Pronto on Ohio Street, or call them at 947-0900. |
